Because you don't just take established narratives and characters with defined genders and change them to placate a vocal minority. That's called pandering.
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GameSpot: No Playable Female Character in new Zelda [UP: Additional Comments in OP]
- Thread starter maxcriden
- Start date
Because you don't just take established narratives and characters with defined genders and change them to placate a vocal minority. That's called pandering.
Ultimadrago
Member
The lanyards had me rolling with laughter. So obviously the same male character in both shots. But no, open eyes = female!
wesleyshark
Banned
If the next Mario game doesn't have a female Mario or have Peach as the main character should we riot over that as well?
……forgetit
Member
This is a crazy jump don't you think? They wanted Link to be Link, he doesn't automatically hate the idea of female characters.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
I don't care that they didn't do it, was always a rumor. What I have a problem with is that reasoning of why Zelda can't be the main.
BabyFaceKillah
Member
Lol
KingdomHeartsFan
Member
I don't really care about having any customization on how Link looks. When I play Zelda I'm playing as Link, I'm not playing as myself.
Zelda's triforce of Wisdom is pretty ironic then, considering how often she gets kidnapped.
Justifying anything with made up story elements that can easliy be changed is just lazy.
Anri of Astora the situation then christ. What a weak excuse for not having a playable Zelda.
This is a new thing. They can do whatever the fuck they want to nothing is holding them back but themselves. They aren't going back and changing an old thing. Try again.
This is a new thing. They can do whatever the fuck they want to nothing is holding them back but themselves. They aren't going back and changing an old thing. Try again.
Not looking food for all her NX rumors too
Oh please. Link is hardly a character.
entremet
Member
She's been downright scary accurate before.
No one bats 1000.
Moreover, who knows if they do a MGS2/Raiden thing.
chaobreaker
Member
Truly the darkest timeline: Giving people more variety and choice in the games they play.
VexMythoclast
Banned
This is perfectly fine with me. Samus (prior to shoehorning voice acting and a "story) will always be a female to me, as Link will always be a male to me.
Rabid-Coot
Member
I don't see why this concept couldn't be extended into having gender and other character customisation options.
I love how Nintendo having a long standing male character remain male is seriously freaking sone people out. Developers have the artistic integrity to make the characters in their game whatever gender they want. Getting upset because an unconfirmed rumour didn't come true is childish.
Disappointing. I think the reasoning doesn't make much sense either, but I suppose it isn't too big a deal anyway, especially since it seems like they've now thought about making a game starring Zelda herself. They didn't go through with it, sure, and the reasoning there was pretty dumb too, but the idea's there now. So hopefully we'll see that or a female Link at some point or another.
It also means Emily Roger's rumors hold no sway anymore, so we probably won't see Mother 3 on VC after all, and that's even more disappointing. Oh well.
It also means Emily Roger's rumors hold no sway anymore, so we probably won't see Mother 3 on VC after all, and that's even more disappointing. Oh well.
Ha! I love Japan and Japanese culture and they are more advanced than the rest of the world in many ways but one way that they are primitive and behind many other countries is their gender issues.
His reasoning is so weak. "but what would Link do?" ummm I don't know. Maybe just be captured by Ganon and put in a cage and do nothing? Like every female in every game ever? Then let Zelda take over and rescue him and kick butt? Is that so hard to imagine? I guess for him and the other suits at Nintendo it is really unfathomable to have a passive male character.
His reasoning is so weak. "but what would Link do?" ummm I don't know. Maybe just be captured by Ganon and put in a cage and do nothing? Like every female in every game ever? Then let Zelda take over and rescue him and kick butt? Is that so hard to imagine? I guess for him and the other suits at Nintendo it is really unfathomable to have a passive male character.
OverturePT
Member
I guess that if we play as a female in a Legend of Zelda, that female better be Zelda. Clearly in the minds of the creators Link is male and Zelda is female, just gender swapping Link is not something I would be excited for as well, but playing as Zelda would be fantastic. I'm pretty confident it will happen in the future, but this game has been in development for so long and they not wanting to do a simple female Link means that a game for Zelda to be a main character in really needs to be built around that (mechanics, story, etc).
Seems like pandering to me.
I actually think it's forward thinking of Nintendo to consider Zelda as the main protag vs. genderbending ​their​ character to appease some people on the internet.
I don't see an issue with any of that, I don't think anyone I know in real life would be upset about giving people options. What kind of people would be upset about it?
I don't think there is an issue about only offering people to play as a male Link, but people here get so defensive about it.
No. It would be forward thinking if they actually made a game with Zelda as the protagonist instead of talking about it.
Scientist Supreme!
Banned
Combine this with his triforce heroes comments, I couldn't blame someone from thinking that.
It was only a matter of time before posts like this would occur, lol.
Clockwork5
Member
Im fine with this.
ZeroGravity
Member
This.
Happy with how things are right now, but if they ever want to make Zelda playable too I'd be down for that.
astroturfing
Member
i dont get it, who cares what sex Link is? why cant he just be a dude like always? like Samus is/was always a woman. who in their right mind would demand her to be a dude..?
people are weird. just play as the character you're given and try your hardest to ignore his/her sex if it bothers you that much, it's not all that difficult.
people are weird. just play as the character you're given and try your hardest to ignore his/her sex if it bothers you that much, it's not all that difficult.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Silver lining is I have less reason to be interested in this Zelda game. Thought they'd have done something interesting with the franchise for a change.
ElectricBlanketFire
Member
That's a leap for a translated response to something that was never happening to begin with.
I would have loved the option but I don't think the angry reaction is justified.
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
Fine with that, vision should always trump political correctness.
……forgetit
Member
I was always surprised that people gave Emily Rogers credit, she was right about one direct and we suddenly forget the many times she was completely wrong.
Why not make a game about the flood where you play as Zelda? Isn't the reason for the flood that Link didn't show up?
By this logic it doesn't make much sense for Zelda to be saved either.
Established narratives? We're fucking talking about Link and Zelda here. This isn't like changing Joel to a woman and calling it a day. Again, Link has been a silent protagonist avatar for the player for most of the games, which don't really link to one another except through strange internet theories that not terribly many actually give a fuck about.
I am mad because it is a shit excuse that is full of sexism.
If they straight out said "because we want link to be always a dude". Zelda playable is not "the simplest option" ... is the ONLY option for them
It's disturbing how many people have come here to gloat about their victory over people who wanted a playable female character. Don't you find Nintendo's justification for this - even if you didn't particularly want a playable female character - just a little bit out of touch?
Delusibeta
Banned
Well, scratch out everything Emily Rogers "leaked", then.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
this is gonna be one of the all time best threads
"If Zelda fights, what's link going to do?"
If the reasoning is based on the balance of the Triforce, it could be interesting if Zelda receives the Triforce of Courage, and Link the Triforce of Wisdom, with all that might entail.
Hell, what would happen if Ganon received wisdom, Link was drunk on Power and Zelda had Courage?
I don't really mind what Link is, but if we're debating the balance of the Triforce, it's the aspects of it that could move around to interesting effect.
If the reasoning is based on the balance of the Triforce, it could be interesting if Zelda receives the Triforce of Courage, and Link the Triforce of Wisdom, with all that might entail.
Hell, what would happen if Ganon received wisdom, Link was drunk on Power and Zelda had Courage?
I don't really mind what Link is, but if we're debating the balance of the Triforce, it's the aspects of it that could move around to interesting effect.
The difference here is that Link isn't one character, it's a "spirit" or whatever that gets reincarnated into different bodies which them a way to change Link however they want without breaking canon.
Slime Scholar
Member
I'd be down for female Link if people want it and it makes them happy, and I get their frustration, but I don't see this as something Nintendo constantly needs to justify. Some people see Link as a generic avatar that we should be able to customize. To Nintendo, and a lot of others, Link is Link. I don't think their answer warrants any needless outrage. But maybe I'm just sick of the negativity.
Was seriously thinking FemLink or at least Linkle would be a thing, so I guess I was wrong. I still think it'll happen one day, or they'll take another approach to a female protagonist, though.
Was seriously thinking FemLink or at least Linkle would be a thing, so I guess I was wrong. I still think it'll happen one day, or they'll take another approach to a female protagonist, though.
So brave and edgy.
Razgriz-Specter
Member
Do co-op(both don't need to be playable at the same time) with Zelda then...
Prince of Persia 08 style
Theres a reason Minda is my favorite Zelda characters.
Also the reason Spirit Tracks is one of my favorites in the series.
Prince of Persia 08 style
Theres a reason Minda is my favorite Zelda characters.
Also the reason Spirit Tracks is one of my favorites in the series.
Stiler
Member
They could have just reversed the roles.
If you choose to play as Zelda, Link is the one you have to rescue this time. If you play as Link you need to rescue Zelda.
That keeps Link who he is while allowing players to play as a female if they wish.
They could have buitl intros that react differently depending on who you choose but kept most of the game largely the same.
If you choose to play as Zelda, Link is the one you have to rescue this time. If you play as Link you need to rescue Zelda.
That keeps Link who he is while allowing players to play as a female if they wish.
They could have buitl intros that react differently depending on who you choose but kept most of the game largely the same.