Nintendo’sLegend of Zeldafranchise has a storied history that echoes through almost every entry. Those echoes encompass pieces of lore like the wielders of the Triforce, as well as content like items, enemies, and bosses. One iconic recurring characters is Dark Link, a being which has also gone by names like Link’s Shadow and Shadow Link in different titles. ADark Link armor set appears inBreath of the Wild, but Nintendo has the opportunity to create more than just an Easter egg for the shadowy figure inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2.
Dark Link debuted as the final boss ofZelda 2: The Adventure of Link, and to this day, he is revered by many for punctuating the side-scrolling adventure with Link having to overcome his mirror match. Shadowy doppelgangers of the silent hero appear in tons of games thereafter, most famously as amini-boss inOcarina of Time’s Water Temple. He is referenced in cutscenes fromTwilight Princess, in the online battle mode ofA Link Between Worlds, and as a secret boss in theLink’s Awakeningremake by using Amiibo. That’s not to mention his appearances in spin-off games such asHyrule Warriors, as well as visual references through alternate color schemes inSmash Bros.
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This history sets Dark Link up to be an interesting potential addition toBreath of the Wild 2, especially considering how Nintendo treats evil counterparts in other franchises.
Nintendo’s Dark Doppelgangers
The Legend of Zeldais not the only Nintendo property that has used a dark copy of the main protagonist.Shadow Mario fromSuper Mario Sunshineis a polluting force who ruins Isle Delfino with graffiti and living goop. Mario is blamed for this mayhem, but he becomes the island’s cleansing hero thanks to his water-spraying companion F.L.U.U.D. In this way,Super Mario Sunshinebecomes a perfect example of why the dark doppelganger trope is used so often: it emphasizes the pure qualities of a protagonist by showing how damaging it could be if they instead chose the path of evil.
Samus Aran is special in that she has encountered two different dark versions of herself.Metroid Fusionsees Samus stalked throughout an abandoned research station by a shapeshifting X parasite in the form of her Varia Suit, affectionately called “SA-X.” However, the more well-known example is undoubtedly Dark Samus from theMetroid Primeseries. Dark Samus is an embodiment of Phazon, the corrupting substance that appears in all parts of Retro Studios’Primetrilogy, and the character was popular enough to become anecho fighter inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The examples go further than that.Kirby & the Amazing Mirrorintroduced an alternate dimension with shadow versions of Kirby, Meta Knight, and King Dedede who would be referenced in future titles. Some games don’t use shadow doppelgangers per-say, but have similar parallels.Fire Emblem Awakeningclimaxes with Robin, the malleable player character, battling his future self and host of the Fell Dragon Grima.Mother 3’s Lucas and Claus, as well asKid Icarus: Uprising’s Pit and Dark Pit, fit this dynamic too.
Dark Link in Breath of the Wild
A running theme among almost every Nintendo doppelganger is how they corrupt the image of an otherwise unflappable hero. It just so happens thatBreath of the Wild’s setting is established via the corruption of Hyrule over the course of Link’s 100-year absence. At the beginning of the game,Calamity Ganon has taken over Hyrule Castle, the four Divine Beasts, and large sections of the open-world map with his malignant spirit. A driving force inBreath of the Wildis cleansing Hyrule of this influence as much as it is about saving the Princess.
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With how much the game leans into Calamity Ganon, it is surprising that Nintendo did not take things a step further by bringing players face-to-face with Dark Link, a corrupted version of the protagonist. That being said, there’s an argument that giving Link inner demons to overcome in such a literal sense may have undermined his status as a purifying force that reclaims Hyrule. His personal character arc is more about coming to terms with his lost memories and friends, thefour Champions who accompanied Link and Zeldain the past.
Breath of the Wild 2offers a perfect opportunity to bring Dark Link into the fold. Now that Link no longer has to deal with his past, he can look to the future with Zelda. However, as thesequel’s E3 2019 trailershows, Ganon may not have been defeated like they one believed. With the recurring antagonist taking a humanoid form again, it stands to reason he may have a more personal stake in the plot. Creating a dark mirror of Link as revenge for the first game seems like one sensible way to approach the story.
Introducing Dark Link into this new version of Hyrule also sets up potentially interesting gameplay.Breath of the Wildis considered by some to be a rebootof the franchise, fleshing out the exploration that madeThe Legend of Zeldaon NES so spectacular. Thus it stands to reason the game’s sequel could pull fromThe Adventure of Linkby including Dark Link as a major boss fight that takes advantage of multiple abilities while being difficult to read because he mimics the player. A Dark Link battle of this scale would far surpass whatThe Adventure of LinkandOcarina of Timewere capable of.
Fans have notedsimilarities betweenBreath of the Wild 2andMajora’s Maskas direct sequels with darker tones, at least going by the upcoming game’s trailer. However, Nintendo could benefit from continuing to draw upon its popular franchise’s storied history, especially lesser-known titles likeThe Adventure of Link. Utilizing Dark Link could offerBreath of the Wild 2new story beats and exciting gameplay opportunities, so it would behoove the development team to at least give him a shot.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2is in development.
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