Does Linkle get a prince named Zeldo?
It’s a post-Tears of the Kingdomworld out there and we’re just living in it, baby. After a few years of bubbling anticipation, the latest entry inThe Legend of Zeldaseries has finally arrived, andaccording to reviews, it just might be worth the extra $10 Nintendo convinced everyone to pay for it. As people around the world, be they famous developers for other games or sad dads on the bus to work, come together to save Hyrule once again, I’m looking ahead to what might be next for the series.
All week on Destructoid, we’ve been publishingretrospectives,listicles, andfeature articlescentered onThe Legend of Zelda. A few of our writers have highlighted ideas for the future of the series, be it afranchise fighting gameor a hypothetical title where thelegend of Zelda is actually about Zelda. And while I support both of those ideas wholeheartedly, I want to focus my final Zelda Week piece on another character entirely. Because it’s about time Nintendo put some serious thought into making a Linkle game.
Linkle’s been on my mind for the past fortnight as I booted upHyrule Warriors Definitive Edition, a game that undoubtedly would have been on my Top 10 list for thatGQ UK 100 best video gamesarticle if anyone outside of Destructoid knew who I was or cared what I thought. I adoreHyrule Warriorswith every fiber of my being, and that’s just how I feel about the Wii U original. TheDefinitive Editionis pure heaven with its steady-as-stone framerate and the introduction of all the elements from the 3DS version of the game. And chief among those elements is…well, it’s theWind Wakerstuff. But second to that is Linkle, who is a ray of sunshine.
Who is Linkle?
If you missed out onHyrule Warriors LegendsorHyrule Warriors Definitive Edition, Linkle is a green tunic-clad Cucco farmer who mistakenly believes she’s the reincarnation of the legendary hero. When she gets word of the attack on Hyrule Castle, she grabs her dual crossbows and springs into action…in the wrong direction. While her journey takes her to many incorrect locations, she eventually reaches the castle and becomes the hero she’s always believed she is meant to be, even if she isn’tthehero.
Eiji Aonuma has suggested Linkle could appear in futureZeldagames. While I question the genuine nature of that statement, given how many years it’s been since she first appeared, I don’t want to lose hope. In fact, considering my copy ofTears of the Kingdomwon’t be here until Monday thankyouverymuchUPS, I’m taking this last bit of free time to postulate ideas on the future of Linkle and what it would be like if she got her own spin-off. Because we’ve already seen how she plays in aMusoucrossover. But if she were to get her own game, what exactly would that look like? And who would/should make it?
A traditional, top-downZeldagame fromBlossom Talesdeveloper Castle Pixel
The first suggestion is the most obvious.The Legend of Zeldafranchise cut its teeth on the top-down action game perspective, and a Linkle adventure would fit in well with the formula. Though, considering her weapon of choice is the crossbow, it would be more shooty than Link’s adventures. Castle Pixel has made a name for itself developing theBlossom Talesseries, which are solidZelda-likes that absolutely nail the feel of playingA Link to the Past. With a little guidance and some funding from Nintendo itself, I have no doubt Castle Pixel could give Linkle a brilliant, old-school solo outing.
A PlatinumGames developed action game
InHyrule Warriors, Linkle’s signature weapons are her crossbows, but she’s not afraid to use her feet when necessary. In the right hands, Linkle could be gaming’s next great action game star. It isn’t difficult to see her hanging with the likes of Bayonetta or Dante, and an action game following the lead of those characters would give this female version of Link an identity far from her origins.
A full-blown FPS from David Szymanski, developer ofDusk
There are infinite first-person shooter developers out there who would do a fine job creating a Linkle first-person shooter. Respawn Entertainment, Retro Studios, id; the cup runneth over on quality candidates. But honestly, after seeing what Brace Yourself Games did withCadence of Hyrule, I think another excellent indie studio should get a whack at making a Linkle FPS. It may seem like something of an odd choice, but I’d love to see whatDuskdeveloper David Szymanski would do with the IP. His 2018 breakthrough title is still one of the best on Switch, and who wouldn’t love to return to a version of Hyrule rendered in all its 64-bit glory?
An on-rails narrative shooter from Treasure (because Treasure needs work)
It pains me to know the on-rails shooter genre will never be as big as I want it to be because, in my mind, it should be enormous. I love me a genre that mixes pure arcade shooting fun with ridiculous set-pieces, and while there have been some great games from the genre on console and in arcades, there is only one developer I would want to take up the challenge of making a Linkle on-rails shooter. And that’s the masterminds behind the Wii flopSin & Punishment: Star Successor.
Treasure is a treasure, whether it’s developing theSin & Punishmentseries for Nintendo or creating the masterpiece omnidirectional shooter that isBangai-O. It’s more than proven itself worthy of getting the keys to a part of theZeldaIP. Plus, given that Treasure hasn’t released a game since 2014, the developers could probably use the work.
A bullet hell shooter from, well, Treasure (because Treasure still needs work)
Again, great genre that should be bigger, only one developer I can trust making a Linkle bullet-hell shooter and it’s the masterminds behind theIkarugaandRadiant Silvergun, yadda-yadda-yadda. Look, I just want Treasure to start making games again. The developers behindGunstar Heroes,Alien Soldier, frickin’Mischief Makers, andAstro Boy: Omega Factorshouldn’t be some relic of the past. It’s hard to think of another studio that has made arcade fun the cornerstone of its DNA and we need more of that in gaming today. So please, Treasure, please start making games again.
Just make it Linkle’s Crossbow Training and call it a day, Nintendo
It’s unlikely we’ll ever see Linkle again outside of some futureHyrule Warriorssequel. While the Super Mario series is absolutely swimming in spin-offs, Link hasn’t been so lucky. Sure, there have been some, likeMy Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess,Cadence of Hyrule, andHyrule Warriors. Other spin-offs only saw a limited release, like the variousTinglegames that were never released in North America orTetra’s Trackers.Link’s Crossbow Trainingis arguably the most well-known of the spin-offs (and certainly the best-selling), and of all the genres that Nintendo would be most likely to stick Linkle in, it’s the shooting gallery genre (as long as it has some peripheral to package with it).
And whileLink’s Crossbow Trainingdidn’t have the best reception, that doesn’t mean Linkle’s turn at the helm would have to turn out so bad. In keeping with the spirits of her debut game, Linkle’s Crossbow Training could take her around the many different versions of Hyrule, from the fields ofOcarina of Timeto the ghost ships ofThe Wind Waker. That’s a game I would play the heck out of.
As I stated above, despite Eiji Aonuma’s insistence, it’s unlikely that Linkle was nothing more than a one-and-done character. We’re probably not going to see her again, at least not from Nintendo proper. But I think the company is in a new era, with successes likeMario + RabbidsandThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, where it isn’t so afraid to loosen its grip on its treasured brands. I’m sure if an indie developer or third-party partner came to Nintendo with a solid pitch for a Linkle game, we could see one come to fruition.
And if not, Nintendo should just ask Treasure to make one because THE WORLD NEEDS MORE TREASURE GAMES.
