Development ofThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timesaw the game go in many different directions before Nintendo settled on its release version, andthe game was almost devoid of Young Link until producer Shigeru Miyamoto stepped in.Ocarina of Timeis frequently held among thebest video games of all time, so it’s hard to envision the title as anything other than what it became, but even its developersdidn’t know how big it would becomeat the time. It was on the cutting edge of gaming technology before the turn of the millennium, but was initially conceived without arguably its most iconic element.
Roughly one-third ofOcarinais played as Young Link before he opens the Door of Time, pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal, and is locked in theSacred Realmfor seven years. Early in development, however, Nintendo didn’t even have a 3D model for a younger version of Link. The series is famously built with a gameplay-first mindset, buta crucial aspect of Link’s character compelled Miyamoto to make Young Link a priority. I don’t thinkOcarina of Timecould have been as impactful without Young Link, and his inclusion crucially continued a fan-favorite iteration of the legendary protagonist.
We Have Miyamoto To Thank For Young Link
“Link Is A Boy”
Link pulling the Master Sword, thus opening the Sacred Realm for Ganondorf, then appearing in the Chamber of Sages seven years older, is amongThe Legend of Zelda’s greatest and most memorable scenes, andit wouldn’t have been possible without Shigeru Miyamoto’s insistence that a younger version of Link be included inOcarina of Time. In an oldIwata Asksinterview, conducted by late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata prior toOcarina of Time 3D’s release, Iwata asks Miyamoto, “You were the one who really wanted to show Young Link, right?”
“Yes,” said Miyamoto.“The work was really piling up, but I said I wanted to show Young Link. I think that caused the other developers a bit of a trouble.“The Nintendo 64 had its limitations, but Young Link was made a possibility by the character simply using Adult Link’s animations. Miyamoto says he told the other developers, “I don’t want to make this without Young Link!” When asked why he was so persistent, Miyamoto said:
“Link is a boy. In the first game, The Legend of Zelda, he was about 12 years old. In Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, he was about 16, but I never wanted to make him just another cool hero. Until The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link was a playful and childish character.”
Miyamoto felt that only featuring Adult Link would compromise his established character from previous games, making him too generically cool. But he did “want Link to be somewhat cool,” so the developers decided to include both Young and Adult Link. It seems like the decision to feature both became the cornerstone ofOcarina of Time:“He doesn’t just grow from the point of view of stats—as in an RPG—but actually grows up in appearance. When we did that, then all sorts of ideas bubbled up.”
Miyamoto and Iwata discussed how depicting Link at two separate ages informedOcarina of Time’s supporting cast, including Saria and Malon, two girls who grew close to Link that aren’t Zelda, and Kaepora Gaebora, who mentors Link as “a grandfather figure” before revealing himself to be Rauru, the Sage of Light. Young Link was also instrumental in establishing Link’s fated encounters with Ganondorf:
Miyamoto:“Link’s archenemy is Ganon, so I thought they should meet once when he’s a child.”
Iwata:“So there’s that scene at the beginning wher eLink has a nightmare.”
Miyamoto:“Yes. That connects to the courtyard scene. The innocent eyes of a child are able to see through to the truth, so Young Link knows instinctively that Ganon is a bad guy. When Adult Link meets him again, and Ganon says he’s that boy from years before, it really hits you.”
Early versions ofOcarina of Timeexcluded Young Link because the developers at one point envisioned the game taking place entirely inside Ganon’s Castle. Hyrule Field was initially thought to be impossible with the N64’s technology, so an older Link was designed first to take advantage of the game’s originally limited scope. Miyamoto’s influence onOcarina(and theZeldafranchise at large) is unquestionable, buthis insistence on putting Young Link in the game helped keep that iteration of the character alive.
No Young Link Would Have Dramatically Changed OOT
“Ocarina Of Time May Have Been An Exception”
Young Link has gone on to remain a separate incarnation of theZeldaprotagonist, much like Toon Link in the wake ofThe Wind Wakerand its direct sequels. Miyamoto’s commitment to depicting Link as a child has had wide-reaching effects on theZeldafranchise, butOcarinaclearly wouldn’t be the same game without him. It’s hard to imagine it even being calledOcarina of Timeif Young Link’s section wasn’t in the game – time-traveling almost necessitates two versions of Link unless Nintendo had instead decided to go all in on two different Adult Links.
But such a choice would have drastically affectedOcarina of Time’s story for the worse.My favorite moment inOcarina of Time, Shiek’s monologue in the Ice Cavern, is indicative of how important the flow of time is to the game’s central messaging. As a silent protagonist, it’s easy to overlook the story’s impact on Link, who has had seven years of his life stripped away. The narrative is, of course, about defeating Ganon, butit’s almost more importantly about the denizens of Hyrule.
“You make games based around functions, so you don’t often talk about story or dramatic interpretation,” Iwata told Miyamoto, “but I feel like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time may have been an exception.” Miyamoto replied,“But while making it, I noticed that I didn’t want to tell a story so much as I wanted to have a lot of people appear around the main character and portray their relationships.”
Miyamoto then citesTwin Peaks, which also inspiredLink’s Awakening, as a template for interesting side characters who indirectly contribute to the story by being compelling in and of themselves.Link is largely a blank slate with a tragic past inOcarina of Time, an orphan raised in Kokiri Forest after his mother fell victim to the violence of theHyrulean Civil Warthat predated the game.
Ocarina of Time’s story earns virtually all of its gravitas through the establishing saga starring Young Link.You see the power of Ganonthrough the lives of those affected during Link’s seven-year absence. You emerge from the Temple of Time, andall the pageantry of getting to play as Adult Link is immediately dashed by a desolate, ReDead-filled Castle Town, with a flame-ringed Death Mountain in the background. Without Young Link’s exploration of a prosperous Hyrule,Ocarina of Time’s setting would just be another grim fantasy kingdom.
Young Link Is One Of The Franchise’s Most Familiar Links
Link Is Always Quite Young
Link’s youth has always been instrumental in his characterization, and it’s quite telling thatOcarina of Time’s sequel,Majora’s Mask, focuses entirely on Young Link. In fact, two of the more recent (and most popular)Zeldagames,Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, are outliers when it comes to Link’s age.Link is technically over 100 years oldinBOTWandTOTK, but discounting the century he spent in the Shrine of Resurrection, he’s still somewhere in his twenties in the latter game. Prior to the Second Great Calamity, he was a sworn knight, which is more than can be said about any other iteration of the hero.
In every otherZeldagame, Link’s destiny is thrust upon him at a very young age, with most of the character’s appearances being roughly as old as Young Link inOcarina of Time. Young Link has largely been subsumed by Toon Link, with every teenage Link post-Wind Wakerappearing in the slightly more realistic art styles ofTwilight Princess,Skyward Sword, andBOTWandTOTK.
Despite his long absence from the series, Young Link was still a separate fighter inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate17 years after his appearance inOracle of AgesandOracle of Seasons. WithThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s legendary and likely permanent place in the video game pantheon, Young Link will continue to endure as one of the franchise’s most prominent characters, and it’s all thanks to Shigeru Miyamoto.
Source:Iwata Asks/Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Heralded as one of the greatest games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is an action-adventure game and is the first in the franchise to transition into 3D. Players take on the role of Link, a young boy sent on a quest to save the world from the evil Ganondorf. Players will switch between young and adult Link as they head to the past and the future to save Hyrule from its dark fate. A Nintendo 3DS version of the game was released in June of 2011, including improved visuals, frame rate, and motion controls.
