Over the 35-year-long history ofThe Legend of Zelda, the franchise’s green tunic-clad protagonist Link has become one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in the world of gaming. Since thecharacter’s roots in the Famicom titlereleased in 1986, the young hero’s adventures across the kingdom of Hyrule and several other fantastical regions have become a staple of the industry and one of Nintendo’s best-selling franchises.
The Legend of Zeldaas a franchise has a long and storied history with many entries across several different platforms. Link has starred in games on every major Nintendo console (except the Virtual Boy) since the franchise first debuted on the Famicom. The iconic swordsman’s popularity has even seen him appear outside of the company’s first-party titles, appearing in games like Namco’sSoul Calibur 2and Sega’sSonic Lost World. However, something the character has never received throughout the long history of the franchise is a last name, despite what a recent French publication may tell.
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Reddit user Dragenby recently discovered the odd surname given to Link in French gaming publication Retro Games Reboot. A section covering theLegend of Zeldaprotagonist refers to Link with the last name of Steadfast, likely the result of a mistranslation during the magazine’s production. Link has never been officially given a last name by Nintendo, thoughZeldacreator Shigeru Miyamoto has joked in the past that his full name would be “Link Link” in reference to the last names given to Mario and Luigi in the1993Super Mario Bros.movie.
Link’s status as a video game icon has led to the character often being the subject of both merchandise and fan creations. Many talented cosplayers have given their own interpretation on Link and the character has received several figures and statues throughout the franchise’s history. Netflix even reportedly considered creating alive-actionLegend of Zeldaseriesfor the platform, though it was later cancelled by Nintendo due to prominent leaks coming out with regards to the series.
2021 marks the 35th anniversary of the originalLegend of Zelda’s release and Nintendo has been celebrating the franchise’s storied history throughout the year. Alongside a limited edition Game & Watch console featuring the first two games andLink’s Awakening, July saw therelease ofSkyward Sword HD, a remaster of the 2011 Wii game. Nintendo has also been slowly divulging more information to fans on the highly-anticipatedBreath of the Wild 2, scheduled to arrive next year.The Legend of Zeldahas become a flagship title for Nintendo and looks to remain one for years to come.
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