Link

Link is a courageous warrior and adventurer from the far away land of Hyrule. He occasionally visits Mushroom World. Like Mario, Link often has to save a princess from her captor. In Link's case, he has to rescue Princess Zelda from Ganondorf. Link is connected to Zelda and Ganondorf by the Triforce.

A Well Deserved Rest
During the events of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Link could be found taking a break from battling Ganon and actually resting at the Rose Town Inn. In fact, the Hyrulian hero is a heavy sleeper; he won't even awaken when spoken to (this is likely a nod to Link's constant portrayal as a silent protagonist). However, a strange melody could be heard whenever anyone tried to talk to the slumbering Link.

The Video Game Hero
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (and Donkey Kong Land 2), Link was ranked third in Cranky Kong’s list of Video Game Heroes. Mario came in first place, while Yoshi came in second place. The heroes were ranked according to how many of Cranky’s hidden DK Coins they discovered while progressing through the levels and defeating Kaptain K. Rool. By collecting more DK Coins than him (19), Diddy Kong knocks Link off the leader board and becomes the #3 Video Game Hero of Donkey Kong Country 2/Donkey Kong Land 2.

Shopping for Information
According to Bazaar the Bear, Link visited the Bear's General Store before the events of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. While he was there, Link asked Bazaar who owned the castle in the northern part of the Northern Kremisphere. However, Link did not have the two Bear Coins Bazaar required before he would tell his story about the castle. Link did have five hundred Rupees though, and Bazaar agreed to take them. Unfortunately for Link, Bazaar did not know who owned the castle; Bazaar merely knew there was a no trespassing sign on the castle grounds. Distraught, Link left the store, grumbling about how Bazaar’s Seashells were the wrong shape.

The Literal Video Game Hero
Link has appeared in all five WarioWare games. He usually is a playable character in 9-Volt's and 18-Volt's micro-games. In the micro-games, the player has to control the hero, helping him avoid the enemies on the screen by moving him safely into a cave.

Super Smash Bros. Tournaments
Link has appeared in all three Super Smash Bros. games as a default character. In the first Super Smash Bros., he was the first character fought in single player mode, on Hyrule Castle. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Link is fought in the Underground Maze in Adventure Mode. Link is fought many different times (wearing different tunics each time) as fighters search for the Triforce to end the level.

Link's Bomb attack is not as strong as throwing the Bob-omb item, but can still do medium damage to the opponent. His Bow and Arrows, as well as his Boomerang, are his main long range attacks. At close range, Link can use the Master Sword to attack and the Hylian Shield to defend. He uses his Hookshot as grab move, which can be attached to the stage to prevent him from falling. A younger version of Link, called Young Link, is also playable in Super Smash Bros. Melee, much in the same manner that Mario and Baby Mario often appear in the same game. Additionally, a doppelgänger of Link, known as Dark Link, can be fought in the game.

Link was also one of the first characters to be announced for the new game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Link's Final Smash will be the Triforce Slash. His moveset has been altered to match his appearance from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which gives him the Gale Boomerang as well as a chargable Spin Attack. Link's grab move, the Clawshot, can be used as Tether Recovery. Link will have a new voice actor in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Akira Sasanuma, who voiced him in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Dark Link will also be in this game, as one of Link's Alternative Costumes.

Profile Information from Super Smash Bros.
''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 strengh and righteousness remain constant. With his trusty sword and a variety of weapons, he takes adventure head on!''

Classic
''Even in his youth, Link was already becoming the warrior who would carry the destiny of Hyrule (and many other lands) on his shoulders. His epic struggles against the forces of darkness are written in legend, and he is bound to the Princess Zelda and the archfiend Ganondorf by the awesome power of the Triforce.''

Adventure
''Burdened with a shield, a heavy sword, and plenty of equipment, Link is not a very mobile character. Nevertheless, he's skilled with the blade, and his varied supply of missile weapons makes him a powerful fighter. To master Link, you must control the pace by balancing your long-range attacks with head-to-head swordplay.''

All-Star
''Link's Bow, Boomerang, and Bombs all take time to wield, so you may want to try drawing them in midair to prevent your foes from attacking you while you're vulnerable. The Spin Attack can score consecutive midair hits, and the final slash is very powerful. Link's Bombs are his trump card, but he can't pull one out if he's carrying another item.''

Trivia

 * Link's name appears on the scorechart of Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64.
 * Link, along with many other non-Mario Nintendo characters, was meant to appear in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, at the Starbeans Cafe. He would try one of the drinks that Mario and Luigi got and reward them with an item called "Triforce". He was replaced by E. Gadd in the final version, although his Triforce reward (albeit redesigned) survived as the professor's Great Force invention.
 * Link appears in Nintendo's very own Board Game, Nintendo Monopoly. He takes the place of Pennsylvania Avenue, and costs $320.