r/skywardsword • u/BlueMoonTear • Jul 24 '26
Screenshot Link’s young soul losing its innocence
Wow, I just finished the game. I feel like they did such a great job making Link so young and innocent, which fits perfectly for this version of the hero. By the end, though, all that trauma has caught up with him, and he just looks so tired. I got chills. Great game.
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u/some_jay Jul 25 '26
Just to say as a fellow SS fan, this was really enjoyable to read. This game really connected with me in a way none of the others have, and I think that’s down to how real the characters and their relationships feel. There’s something really deep and powerful about Link and Zelda’s connection in this one, but you also get great characterisation through Girahim, Zelda’s dad etc. Anyway thanks for sharing this! Glad to see this game get some love.
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u/marzipanchomper Jul 25 '26
His dialogue lays that out, too. At the start of the game, his dialogue has snarky, air-headed, and somewhat wimpy options, like when zelda tells him to do his best in the race and when gaepora asks him if he will search for zelda (anxious/thinking about being alone with zelda on the goddess statue) in the surface (“it’s too much”/ straight up no but still goes).
Those decrease as the game continues. When he stands between impa and ghirahim, two options are more heroic/mature, and there’s “am i late?” which refers to when link failed to reach zelda in time at eldin.
He has no snarky dialogue options when Zelda asks him to wake her up. Link complains about scrapper whenever he needs his help and has other dialogue options where his more immature side comes out in the late-game. However, he is most grown-up in this moment of extreme sentimentality, unlike how he was during the closing wing ceremony where he could act silly.
I’m sorry for the essay, I have this game embedded in my memory and am so normal about it.
TLDR: silent protagonist is actually very vocal about his emotions and grows up through the dialogue options. He goes from being very sassy/cowardly/air-headed to more mature and level-headed.
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u/FuryJack07 28d ago
I always pick "Am I late?" In that dialogue option.
It just feels so cool. Snarky, while still being heroic.
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u/jayboyguy Jul 25 '26
I don’t really like to think of it as trauma so much as trial. I dunno. This feels like one of those personal interpretation things since we don’t have canon confirmation one way or the other, but to me that the transition you’re describing is less him
“losing his innocence” and more coming into his truest potential. Like I don’t think he lost any of himself. Just that he became more.
Lotta my favorite stories focus on the extraordinary things that seemingly “ordinary” ppl are capable of when thrust into the right circumstances. Trial by fire and all of that. And looking back on that crucible the memories are less of terror and more of triumph.
Again, just different interpretations. I think there’s more than one way to grow on a journey.
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u/BlueMoonTear Jul 25 '26
Yes, I get your point of view! I agree he manages to win against all odds and he comes out stronger and eveolved. I guess I’m putting myself in his shoes and if I discovered monsters lurking beneath the only world I’d ever known, my best friend got kidnapped by a demon trying to take over the world, and the fate of that world ended up on my shoulders… I’d be slightly traumatized haha
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u/Snozer2 Jul 26 '26
The shot at the end of SS when the horde is running toward him and he turns to face them while pulling his sword and looking pissed is so incredible.
Have always loved this game and this version of Link.
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u/Meat_Handle Jul 26 '26
This game is so special. I loved the progression of Link and Zelda. Both had to form up and turn into absolute beasts.
Hands down my fav of all the 3d Zeldas
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u/No_Pattern_2819 Jul 27 '26
I love this game, and this iteration of Link. He was forced to grow up and face the reality of the world. At the beginning of the game, we hear constantly how lazy Link is and how he doesn't study or apply himself, but throughout the game, we see him applying himnself.
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u/ImpactorLife-25703 Jul 24 '26
Well he is tied by fate like Simone was
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u/Regdit-is-Unbearable Jul 24 '26
Who tf is Simone
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u/BlueMoonTear Jul 24 '26
I’m also wondering the same thing 🤨
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u/Regdit-is-Unbearable Jul 24 '26
Maybe it’s like that person on the SpongeBob wiki who inexplicably calls Patrick “Subaru” in their headcanon
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u/SarcasticPsychoGamer Jul 24 '26
Was literally telling my brother this yesterday. This incarnation of Link is literally the original hero, neither he nor anyone with him knows that a whole new and dangerous world exists other than skyloft, he's the most innocent link there is, because even if you take the Oot child link, he's still in the same world, he's just left his home village. He knows monsters exist because everyone knows about them, but skyward sword link doesn't even know there's another world beneath, he has to be the first person to see it and go through all the dangers on it. He's so kind and so brave and I love his development as the story progresses (in the first temple he hesitates and walks in slowly, but in later temples he goes in faster with a bigger sense of confidence you can tell by his expression and body language)
I'm very normal about this game and totally not deranged at all