Link

Link is the main protagonist of the The Legend of Zelda series created by Nintendo. Over the course of the series, many different incarnations of Link have existed, chosen by the Goddesses of Hyrule to protect the land from evil. Each incarnation of him bears the Triforce of Courage, and usually has to fight Ganon and save Hyrule and its ruler, Princess Zelda. Being one of the most popular video game characters alongside Mario, Link has had several crossover appearances within the Mario series.

Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up
Link's first appearance in the Mario series is the coloring game Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up. He first appears on the "Chef" page, where he is shown waiting for a pasta dish cooked by Mario. He later appears on the "Travel Guide" page, which depicts him owning a travelling agency. Several enemies from The Legend of Zelda series also make appearances in the other career pages.

Club Nintendo
Link also makes several appearances in the Mario-based comics within the German Club Nintendo magazine, his appearance based upon that in the original The Legend of Zelda. He debuts in "Super Mario: Die Bescherung", celebrating a Christmas party in Mario and Luigi's house. His role in this story is minor, though he has a brief speaking part at the end, mistrusting the realness of Santa Claus.

In "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen", Link appears in the role of the Ghost of Present. Like in the story it is based on, Link takes Wario to see those he had upset earlier.

In "Mario in Mariozilla", he is seen in the Empire State Building, studying a map together with Dr. Light, who lives there. Link's actual role is unknown, though it appears that he works as Light's assistant. He also comments on a "magic cap" Light gave to Mario in order to make him incognito - actually a simple paper bag pulled over his head - in the way that it "becomes" him.

Link, alongside Kirby, is Mario's ally in the comic "Super Mario in Die Nacht des Grauens". During the events of this story, he lives in a Brooklyn skyscraper and fights against Abigor and his demonic fellows who plan to take over the building. He does so by making use of a magic serum which turns him and his allies into aggressive ghostbusters. In this form, he has green skin, black armor and a fire sword.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (and Donkey Kong Land 2), Link is ranked third in Cranky Kong’s list of Video Game Heroes. Mario comes in first place, while Yoshi comes in second place. The heroes are ranked according to how many of Cranky's hidden DK Coins they have discovered while progressing through the levels and defeating Kaptain K. Rool. By collecting more DK Coins than he (19), Diddy Kong can knock Link off the leader board and become the #3 Video Game Hero of Donkey Kong Country 2/Donkey Kong Land 2. However in the Gameboy Advance port Link is second place on the leaderboard with Yoshi coming in third and Mario coming in first.

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, in one of the dialogue sequences, Bazaar the Bear states that Link visited his General Store the week before, asking who owns the castle in the northern part of the Northern Kremisphere. He did not have enough Bear Coins, but Bazaar thought him nice enough that he accepted a payment of 500 rupees instead. After being told the information, Link left, grumbling about the seashells being the wrong shape (a nod to the Secret Seashell sidequest in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.) This easter egg was removed in the Game Boy Advance port.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Link can be found taking a break from battling Ganon and actually resting at the Rose Town Inn. In fact, the Hylian hero is a heavy sleeper; he does not even awaken when spoken to (this is likely a nod to Link's constant portrayal as a silent protagonist). However, a strange but familiar melody can be heard whenever anyone tries to talk to the slumbering Link: the melody that plays when the player reveals a secret in the Zelda series.

Super Smash Bros. series
Link appears in all four Super Smash Bros. games as a default character. Most of Link's standard attacks make use of the Master Sword, while his specials are all attacks or items from The Legend of Zelda series.

Super Smash Bros.


In Super Smash Bros., Link's design is based on Adult Link from Ocarina of Time. Link is the first character fought in single player mode, on Hyrule Castle.

Link's neutral special move in this game is the Boomerang, in which Link tosses a boomerang to damage opponents. His up special move is the Spin Attack, in which he spins around rapidly to deal damage; and his down special is Bomb, in which Link pulls out a bomb to throw. In addition, Link's grab move uses the Hookshot, an item taking its appearance from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that can also be used as a tether recovery.

Two of Link's alternate colorations in this game are based upon the Goron and Zora Tunics from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, while his final coloration is based upon his outfit after collecting the Blue Ring in the original The Legend of Zelda.

Super Smash Bros. Melee


In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link retains his The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time appearance, though some of his moves have been changed. His neutral special attack has been replaced with the Bow, which lets Link shoot an arrow that can be charged; the boomerang has instead been made his side special move. His other specials are kept the same, as has the Hookshot. Starting with this game, Link can also use the Hylian Shield he carries to defend from projectile attacks while standing still.

In the game's Adventure Mode, Link is fought in the Underground Maze stage. He can be found at fake pedestals for the Master Sword (wearing a different tunic each time) as fighters search for the Triforce to end the level. Young Link, Link's child self from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, is also a separate playable character, much in the same manner that Mario and Baby Mario often appear in the same game. Additionally, a doppelganger of Link, known as Dark Link, is a boss-type enemy that can be fought in the game during an Event match.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Link was the first character to be announced for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His appearance and moveset in this game have been changed to reflect those of their appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess; the bow (now called "Hero's Bow") and bombs have been aesthetically swapped to match their Twilight Princess appearances, while the boomerang has been replaced with the Gale Boomerang, which generates a whirlwind that can drag in opponents as it returns. The Hookshot has also been replaced with the Clawshot from Twilight Princess, which, when used offstage, can home in on ledges and grab them unlike the Hookshot; however, it is now a tether recovery as opposed to a wall grapple.

Link has a new voice actor in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Akira Sasanuma, who voiced him in Twilight Princess. Dark Link is also in the game, both as one of Link's alternative colors and as an opponent in an Event match. Toon Link, the Link incarnation from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, also appears in the game as a playable character, with a similar moveset to Link's.

Role in the Subspace Emissary
While walking through a forest, Links finds the Master Sword. Taking it in hand, he meets up with Yoshi, forming an alliance. They later meet Mario and Pit, though under circumstances where Mario/Link defeats an evil copy of Zelda/Peach, leading to a fight. The two groups come to an understanding (and Kirby joins up as well) and unite as they see King Dedede driving off with Ness, Luigi, and the captured Princess.

They come to Dedede's base, only to find that Bowser has beaten them to it, taking the Princess off in his Koopa Clown Car. The team grows in size as they meet with Ike, Marth, Lucas, the Pokémon Trainer, and the Ice Climbers. The remaining heroes join them as they enter Subspace. Link is among the many that falls to Tabuu's Off Waves, only to be revived by Kirby. He and Zelda come across Ganondorf's trophy and revive him, forming a temporary alliance as everyone teams up to defeat Tabuu.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Link reappears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U as a playable character along with Toon Link. He retains the design from his incarnation in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, though with a brighter color scheme than that of Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Twilight Princess. Link retains much of his moveset from the previous game, though some of his non-special moves have been altered, such as his down aerial gaining a Meteor Smash effect. Link's shield has also been altered to stop projectiles while walking.

Link keeps all of his alternate costumes from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, while gaining two more: one based on on his ordinary clothes from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and another based on Fierce Deity Link, a transformation from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

WarioWare series
Link appears in several WarioWare games. He usually is a playable character in 9-Volt's and 18-Volt's microgames.

In WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, Link appears in the Legend of Zelda microgame, based on the original The Legend of Zelda game, in which the player must guide Link into a cave.

In WarioWare: Twisted!, Link appears in another microgame also titled The Legend of Zelda, once again based on the original game. The object is to rotate the handheld to deflect projectiles by red Octoroks with the shield.

In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, two incarnations of Link appears. In the Ocarina of Time microgame, Young Link must draw his sword from its pedestal. This turns him into Adult Link on Level 1, old Link (with a grey beard) on Level 2, and a Cucco on Level 3. In addition, in the Wind Waker microgame, Toon Link must glide over the sea to a safe landing point with the Deku Leaf.

In WarioWare: D.I.Y., Link is the main character in the Zelda microgame, appearing in his The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass incarnation. The object is to defeat Chuchus with the sword by tapping them.

In WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, Link is in the Zelda 2 microgame, based on Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, in which Link must deflect a Goriya's boomerangs with the shield.

Captain Rainbow
Though Link himself doesn't make a direct appearance in Captain Rainbow, there is a Link cameo in the form of a portrait of him above Tracy's throne, next to a portrait of Mario. The Link picture is actually artwork from Twilight Princess. It is worth noting that Tracy is a character also from the Legend of Zelda series.

Super Mario 3D World
In Super Mario 3D World, before the second Green Star in, Rainbow Run, if the player walks around in a secret area, he or she will uncover an 8-bit image of Link, hidden as an easter egg. A remix of the main theme of the Legend of Zelda will begin to play afterwards.

Mario Kart 8
In Mario Kart 8, Link appears as a downloadable playable character in the The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8 downloadable content pack. Not counting the arcade installments of the Mario Kart series, Link is the first non-Mario series character to appear in the Mario Kart series since R.O.B. appeared in Mario Kart DS.

Link is a heavyweight racer, although he is one of the lighter heavyweights, befitting his much taller size, though he shares his stats with Rosalina, Donkey Kong, Waluigi, and Roy Koopa. His appearance is based on that of his incarnation in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The Master Cycle, a bike based on Link's Master Sword and his horse Epona, appears as one of four additional vehicle bodies, along with a Zelda-themed set of tires, the Triforce Tires, and a Zelda-themed glider, the Hylian Kite. A Zelda-themed course called Hyrule Circuit also appears as part of the Triforce Cup.

Super Mario Maker
Link appears as a Costume in Super Mario Maker. Link's and his toon counterpart's costumes can be unlocked by scanning their respective amiibo or randomly by completing the 100 Mario Challenge. Link's costume resembles his original sprite in The Legend of Zelda.

Super Smash Bros.

 * Bio: Link is the valiant boy hero of "The Legend of Zelda" series in which he fights against the evil Ganon to recover the Triforce. Though his tools may change with each adventure, his strength and righteousness remain constant. With his trusty sword and a variety of weapons, he takes adventure head on!

Bio
''A sword-wielding hero who also boasts long-range attacks.

Bios

 * Instruction booklet: A warrior from distant Hyrule. His sword and projectiles make him a versatile fighter.
 * Website: The hero of The Legend of Zelda series.
 * The design of this particular Link comes from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.


 * Link wields the Master Sword and a diverse arsenal of equipment.'
 * Use all of his weapons to adapt to the ebb and flow of battle.

Snake's codec

 * Snake: Otacon, who's the guy with the sword?
 * Otacon: That's Link. He's the hero of Hyrule. That blade in his hand is called the Master Sword, also known as the "Blade of Evil's Bane." He also has a whole arsenal of items at his disposal--bombs and arrows, a shield, a boomerang, and a Clawshot. He's a force to be reckoned with.
 * Snake: Gear is only useful when it's used at the right time and place. Just lugging a ton of it around doesn't do you any good.
 * Otacon: ...I, uh... I wouldn't be talking if I were you, Snake.
 * Snake: What's that supposed to mean?
 * Otacon: You tell me, Mr. Utility Belt.
 * Snake: ...

Trophies
Red indicates exclusive to the 3DS version. Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.

Palutena's Guidance

 * Pit: Of all the fighters, Link is the one I most want to take down!
 * Palutena: Oh? Why's that?
 * Pit: We were born around the same time, and we both use a bow. He's totally ripping off my style.
 * Viridi: Puh-lease! Comparing Link to you is like comparing a star to a campfire.
 * Pit: What?!
 * Viridi: Just look at those chiseled features! His cheekbones could seriously cut glass.
 * Pit: Uh, earth to Viridi!
 * Viridi: Oh, I'm only kidding. The goddess of nature would never be interested in some hairless monkey!
 * Palutena: Oh, humans aren't all that bad. I could introduce you to him, if you'd like.
 * Viridi: Hmph. If you insist.
 * Palutena: Back to the fight at hand. Pit, you can reflect Link's projectile attacks using your Guardian Orbitars.
 * Viridi: Just watch out for his dreamy Clawshot!

Trivia

 * Link's name appears on the scorechart of Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color.
 * Link, along with many other non-Mario Nintendo characters, was meant to appear in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, at Starbeans Cafe; he would have given Mario and Luigi the Triforce. In the final game, all of the Nintendo cameos are replaced with Professor E. Gadd, and the Triforce is instead the Great Force.
 * Link appears in Nintendo Monopoly. He takes the place of Pennsylvania Avenue, and costs $320.
 * In the Club Nintendo comic "Super Mario: Die Verwandlung", Dr. Light constantly mistakes Mario for Link. One of these confusions also implies that Link has undergone an aesthetic surgery by Light.