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Does anyone else just...despise Toon Link?
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Newtype-001
Member
Its inconceivable people hate THE Best Link
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
Vostranoid
Neo Member
The Link in Wind Waker is by FAR my favorite. The only time I actually enjoyed Link as a character, to be perfectly frank.
If he is going to be so expressive why doesn't he just talk?
Oh look Toon Link feels sad ... but I don't feel sad
Oh look Toon Link is angry ... but why you mad guy
The whole point of the silent protagonist is that it is supposed to be an empty avatar for the player to project their emotions on to.
mcz117chief
Member
Toon Link is the only one I don't hate, I actually think he looks great, far FAR superior to any other version I have ever seen.
Its inconceivable people hate THE Best Link
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
Dang it, beaten!
Anyway, my thoughts:
Great post, highlights exactly what I wanted to say.
I understand why people feel strongly about the different Link designs, but there's really no need to square off Toon Link with Adult Link or any of the other forms of Link. Each Link allows for different kinds of emotional expression/connection that fit the overall theme and mood of the games. OoT really focused on the experience of aging, nostalgia, and experiencing how time changes places of youth. Because of this, the character's expressions didn't need to carry as much emotional weight--rather, it could be expressed through the spaces themselves as well as the physical changes in the character's body.
Wind Waker, on the other hand, attempts to connect the player to the emotion in the game through facial expressions and bodily gestures. This is why the dev team went with the big head, big eyes design. Unlike OoT Links, whose faces do not lend themselves to sharp dramatic responses, the exaggeration in WW Link's face allows players to see, feel, (and potentially) identify with the emotions much more easily. It's also easy to understand why one might dislike this cartoonish hyperbole, but I'd argue that's a sign that the design is successful--one way or another, you have a strong reaction to this style whereas OoT Links don't stand out as much (or at least are as much a focal point as the scope of Hyrule Field, the overrun castle town of Hyrule, etc.)
But back to OPs point about Smash, I'd say that's exactly why Toon Link works in Smash. To set the tone for Smash as a hybrid party/fighting game, many of the characters have very animated facial features and expressive gestures which makes Toon Link a great fit in the roster. This isn't to say there aren't characters with a much more narrow range of emotional expression (coughdarkpitcough), but characters like DeDeDe, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Villager, etc. all set a certain tone that fits well with Toon Link.
Those were the days!
XD
Toon Link used to beat me up as a kid and he stole my first girlfriend. I feel like I've lost years of my life due to Toon Link. Until I take his life from him with my own hands I can't feel like there is any payment that will return to me what he owes.
Nah, he's okay. Link to the Past's Link is the best though. Secret worst is Zelda 64 prototype Link, the one with the dark brown hair. He doesn't even has CD-i Link's charm.
Hyperbole. But Wind Waker looks better than this.
Professor Beef
Banned
[QUOTE="D";227120910]Mmmm Ness is better proportioned compared to most chibi. Earthbound/Mother is the only exception for me cause the artstyle is kinda baked into its essence[/QUOTE]
Mhmm, just wrap those excuses around yourself like a nice warm blanket.
Mhmm, just wrap those excuses around yourself like a nice warm blanket.
Pancakes R Us
Member
I barely play Zelda but I think Toon Link is the best character design of all the Links. Wind Waker is still stunning.
Spiritwalker
Member
Its inconceivable people hate THE Best Link
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
so cute :')
toon link is best link
Lol call it what you will, but I can be honest with my bias and say its the only chibi I'm cool with cause I like Ness/Earthbound/Mother series that much
On a side note I'm growing to like BoTW Link a lot, at first he looked kinda weird (probably cause he doesn't wear the typical Hero garb)
ALbW's art for child Link is better than the Toon Link design to me, but that's just my opinion
Toon Link is fine but Nintendo massively overused the Wind Waker art style. It looked good in Wind Waker of course, and Minish Cap utilized it well, but over ten years later Nintendo is still going back to the well with that. I was so thankful that ALBW at least looked different.
InfiniteCombo
Banned
I stopped reading right there. No elaboration needed, Toon Link is best Link hands down.
Nah it looked pretty stupid even for the time:
It's pretty funny how people are still butthurt over not getting THAT.
My favorite version of Link, actually.
Same, so much charm in his design and his animations.
Its inconceivable people hate THE Best Link
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
Same, so much charm in his design and his animations.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
But I don't hate TP Link.
pinkurocket
Member
me @ op btw
neohwa
Junior Member
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
That's the problem. He is supposed to be a hero, not a comedian. Nor a cute person. This is not Nintendogs or Kirby.
Look at his determination expressions when he got the Master Sword! Immersion destroyed.
How much bearded muscleman Link fanart do you have on your computer right now? Tell the truth.
How About No
Member
Hey that's what they introduced Selfie Mode for! Now you can have him emote whatever you want.
Just making sure...is this real criticism? Now I sorta understand the philosophy of having a game protagonist emotionally aligning with the player, but I don't really think this should hold any weight in regards to WW Link. They were going for a more lighthearted mood, and I don't think it would have worked as well if he was just experiencing everything with a blank face. And it's not like they haven't had Link emote in the past, just not to this extent.
"Look how happy ALTTP Link is that he found these rupees! Well it's just some stupid rupees why should I be happy about that."
"Why is Link screaming when falling down a hole? There's clearly a floor below, it's totally safe and there's nothing to be afraid of. That why I jumped in the hole in the first place"
Gai Murakumo
Member
Toon Link overall is the best Link second to Skyward Sword Link for me.
a very cute dog
Member
No! I love Celda!
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Quit talking so silly.
neohwa
Junior Member
They do, but not in the Zelda series. Link and Zelda are supposed to be age over 10.
FarFromAnyGame
Banned
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
I always think of a dude named Catface Meowmers when I think of determination.
Maybe it's because the first Zelda game I played in full was a Toon Link game but I have literally never felt that way about Link. A lot of the time he's got his own backstory as well which doesn't do much in favor of the projected character type either, since your character is already starting with attachments and personal investments.
Link has been a wolf, a rabbit, a fishman, a rock person, a plant, an octopus, and a maybe-god-thing, but god forbid he be a young child!
Booya_base
Member
Wow I didn't realise everyone liked him. I wouldn't say "despise" but he is trash tier.
How About No
Member
Oh man you should have seen the "kiddie" "Celda" bitching when the game got announced...
I was 12-13 at the time and I think that's the first time I had to SMH to the response of a video game
Minish Cap secret best Zelda game
ok so I never played the FSA or DS games
neohwa
Junior Member
I was there. Gamecube didn't need that with the image it has. It was like Nintendo trolling us.
Suburban Thug
Member
Toon link is best link
Vanguard771
Member
That's the same face I had during that cutscene. Even Toon Link could see that something was wrong with the sword when he pulled it out of the pedestal.
Messofanego
Banned
Its inconceivable people hate THE Best Link
Pretty much all his expressions make me laugh.
Excellent.
This gives depth to his characterisations, that he's a real character with emotions instead of a one dimensional cardboard cutout.
ivanthebearable
Member
Worst Link will forever be TP Link with his ugly ass 3D Model and stupid ass crawling-in-my-skin-these-wounds-they-will-not-heal Wolf fursona.
Windwaker Link is one of the better ones, up there with NES, Oracles and SS Link.
Windwaker Link is one of the better ones, up there with NES, Oracles and SS Link.
davidwhangchoi
Member
i skipped every game with toon link. even though i brought one for gamecube to collect i haven't played it.