By: Marc Duddleson
I have just attended a recent videogames show in Japan. Nintendo had featured many games, including the latest and upcoming Legend of Zelda games. I updated my website every 4 or 5 hours with exciting new Nintendo information. Much of this information came from interviews with the elite of the game development society, such as Mr. Miyamoto, and many lead designers from Rareware. But as the show was coming to a close on the final day, I saw Link himself playing an early version of an upcoming Mario adventure for GameBoy Color. I knew this was my best chance to get some never before known info about the Legend of Zelda series. With pen and paper in hand, I approached him...
Marc: Hello, Mr... Link. My name is Marc Duddleson. I'm an editor at a popular Nintendo site. Would you mind if I asked you several questions?
Link: Greetings, Marc. Ask me anything you wish.
Marc: Well, Link... I must ask this first... why have you always worn that Kokiri tunic, even once you discovered from the Deku Sprout that you weren't a Kokiri?
Link: Well, I'm not really sure. Mr. Miyamoto just makes me wear it, I guess.
Marc: OK. Well, what about the Master Sword? Why was it hidden in the Temple of Time in one game, and in a forest in another?
Link: Well, once I returned the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time, the door of time was left wide open. It was decided by 7 wise men that it should be hidden elsewhere. Also, they created a new seal, which was broken by 3 pendants that I collected.
Marc: Why did the Master Sword not transport you to either the Sacred Realm or another time period in your third game?
Link: Don't ask me. I don't design this stuff.
Marc: I see. And then there's the question of Impa... how can Impa still be Zelda's handmaiden in Zelda 1 and 2 if she becomes a Sage in Ocarina of Time, which comes before those adventures?
Link: ...um... good question. (laughs) I never really thought about it!!
Marc: (Laughing) Let's move on. How old is Ganondorf?
Link: He's dead.
Marc: (rolling eyes) Yeah, he died about 4 times (laughs).
Link: I believe he was about 43 when I first encountered him.
Marc: What kind of life span does a Gerudo have? If only one male is born among them every 100 years, then...
Link: Don't worry. The record for a Gerudo male is 172. They average about 155 years old, though.
Marc: I'd assume the Gerudos aren't gonna live much longer now that Ganondorf's dead.
Link: Oh, who cares?
Marc: Yeah, the Hylians could always take over more land when they're gone, right?
Link: Heh heh heh.
Marc: Hey, why do you need a power bracelet of sorts in every game?
Link: Well, I COULD go without, but Miyamoto made me sign a contract where I wasn't allowed to pick up stuff without the bracelet. I dunno. Must be one of his gameplay trends. (laughs)This reminds me of an argument between me and Miyamoto. In Ocarina of Time, while I'm a kid, I can pick up rocks, but not long grass. Sounds ridiculous, right?
Marc: I've never really thought about it, but go on.
Link: (chuckles) Well, I finally got him to let me lift at least SOMETHING without a bracelet. I had to threaten him with my Fire and Ice rods before he would agree. But he took them away from me after that... that's why I don't have them in Ocarina of Time.
Marc: That's quite an interesting story, Link.
Link: (whispers) Well, don't post that anywhere. Miyamoto may replace me with Peter Pan if he discovers I told anyone.
Marc: OK, I'll scratch that out. Now, here's something else that I've been itching to discover... how come your green clothes in Ocarina of Time are still called "Kokiri Tunic" even when you're older? Do they make an adult size?
Link: Very interesting that you should bring that up. I was talking telepathically to Rauru the other day, and I asked him that myself. He was the one that dressed me in my larger clothing, of course. He told me that my clothes actually came from Chuck, a...larger Kokiri. He wandered to the Deku Tree's area, without his permission, and commented on him big nose. Well, the Deku Tree then banished him from the forest, and well... being a Kokiri, he just disappeared, of course. So there were some larger spare clothes, but no one was big enough to wear them except me.
Marc: Even the Deku Tree has a sick sense of humor. Now, here's the real question: why didn't Rauru dress you in Hylian clothes?
Link: Miyamoto thought of this little problem himself. He talked to Rauru about the situation. Rauru wanted to use his own imagination in what he would put on me after I drew the Master Sword. But Miyamoto rejected all his ideas. You'd understand why if you heard some of them. This situation actually cut back some of Rauru's percentage on profits from the game.
Marc: I see. And what about those guards all around Hyrule Castle? What kind of vision do those guys have? They can hardly see you.
Link: They aren't too bright either. Actually, you can't even see their eyes. Their helmets cover them up. Sounds dumb, but I heard it was Royal Family tradition.
Marc: While I'm on the topic of Hyrule Castle, how did Ganondorf make that huge lava pit under his castle? What happened to the original castle?
Link: I was locked in time, remember? It's not like I try to figure this stuff out.
Marc: Yes, I understand. One of the many controversies about Ocarina of Time was that the classic Zelda overworld theme was not in it. What was your reaction to this situation?
Link: I of course objected at first, but it's a catchy tune after a while, because of how the interactivity feature works.
Marc: In your third game, you had an uncle. How is he related to you?
Link: Well... he's my uncle. What else is there to say?
Marc: No, I mean, how did you discover that he was your uncle?
Link: I did some research on my family history and found him. He was rather pleased to be related to the Hero of Time. It sort of gave him some nutty ideas too. For one, he enlisted to become a part-time knight of the Royal Family, and considered himself to be one of their best, just because of his relationship to me. Well, I have to just say he was pathetic. He got hit and nearly killed, and barely got into the castle when he tried to rescue Zelda!
Marc: Well, it seems the convention hall is beginning to be cleared out. I've saved one question for last... why do you never talk in your games?
Link: (shrugs) ................
Marc: (laughs) That's all Link, and "May the way of the Hero lead to the Triforce!!"
Note: I'd like to thank Link for taking part in this interview.
