In The Legend of Zelda series, Link has had several companions in his various incarnations, with a few standing out as especially memorable. Although Link gets most of the glory, some of his adventures would not have been possible without his allies. They deserve recognition for the roles that they played in his quests over the years.
In The Legend of Zelda games, Link is almost always a silent protagonist, so his companions frequently provide the lion's share of the game's dialogue. Their personalities can be a bigger addition to the game than even Link himself, who is typically the stoic type aside from a few exceptions, such as Wind Waker's especially expressive version of Link. Not only do they add character, but they can also provide important game mechanics that the player will have to learn to succeed.
While there are good candidates for Zelda characters who could return in BOTW 2, some of Link's companions could be argued as the series' best. Be they unique concepts, highly useful in gameplay, or just extremely well-written, each of these characters added something special to their respective game. In some cases, their game wouldn't be complete without them. It is about time that they receive their proper due.
Skyward Sword's Fi Is A Good Idea That Could Have Been Better
Fi from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword deserves recognition simply for being an incredible concept as a character. She is the spirit that dwells inside of the Goddess Sword, a blade designed by the goddess Hylia that eventually becomes the series' iconic Master Sword. The idea of turning one of the series' most famous icons into a character is interesting in its own right, and has a lot of merit. While some can say that Skyward Sword's Groose has Zelda's best character arc, Fi still has him beat in of being an interesting concept.
Unfortunately, Fi did not get a warm reception from many players at first. A lot of her assistance was seen as unnecessary, and her advice was compared to Ocarina of Time's infamous Navi. However, the remaster of Skyward Sword for the Switch lessened the frequency of her advice, and Hyrule Warriors made her playable with a flashy and impressive fighting style. Despite her initial frosty reception, Fi is still one of the cooler concepts that the Zelda franchise has seen.
Phantom Hourglass' Linebeck Is A Solid Source Of Comic Relief
Linebeck from The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is one of the most unlikely companions that Link has had. A sailor who claims to be a grand adventurer, he allows Link to use his personal ship as they set out on the game's journey. However, while Linebeck is nowhere near as bad as Tingle and his dark secrets in Wind Waker, he is still far from irable. Greedy and only interested in treasure rather than saving the world, Linebeck's cowardice and foolhardy antics provide plenty of the game's humor.
Despite Linebeck frequently failing to back up his bluster, he still manages to be helpful to Link, primarily due to his boat. His boat is the only reason why Link can go on his journey in the first place, even though he did only up to try to get rich. In addition, he also eventually proves himself to be a worth part of Link's journey despite largely being a coward. Linebeck is one of the most memorable parts of Phantom Hourglass, and a very worthy ally of Link's
In Spirit Tracks, Zelda Finally Got Her Time To Shine
In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, players finally got the chance to play as Zelda for the first time in the main Legend of Zelda series. Although Zelda has used many disguises in the games, her first playable appearance is actually as a spirit due to her body being stolen by the game's villain. However, even without a body, Zelda proves to be an extremely useful ally. She can possess Phantoms, living suits of armor that are normally dangerous enemies. In this form, she can fight alongside Link as well as help him solve puzzles.
Beyond the novelty of being able to finally play as Zelda in the series named after her, Spirit Tracks really makes her feel unique. Her phantom possession is a gimmick that makes the game stand out, and it even inspired one of Zelda's moves in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Zelda accompanying Link on his journey also helps this to be one of the most interesting versions of the princess to date, and she arguably gets more character development than Link. Zelda's showing here showed that Link doesn't always have to be the hero, because Zelda could perform the job just fine.
Midna Is Twilight Princess' Sassy, Snarky, And Memorable Sidekick
Twilight Princess was just as much Midna's story as it was Link's. The Twilight Princess of the game's title, Midna's sole goal is to take down the traitorous Zant and return to the Twili people. Interestingly for one of Link's allies, Midna is actually rather unpleasant at the start of the game. She's casually rude and sarcastic, and doesn't seem to think much of Link or anyone else. However, her personality does manage to mature over the course of the game as she comes to respect Link, and the two of them make a very good team. The fact that a Twilight Princess side story was almost made should be a hint as to TP and Midna's popularity.
Midna has to travel in Link's shadow a lot of the time due to direct light being dangerous to her, but that doesn't mean she's a pushover. When Link is in his wolf form, she can use her magic powers to provide him with backup in battle. Hyrule Warriors expanded on this, showcasing her ability to fight entire hordes by herself. Although she may not make the best first impression, Midna does more than enough to show that she is a true hero.
Wind Waker's King of Red Lions Is Link's Best Companion
In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link must traverse the islands of the Great Sea in order to defeat Ganondorf. This task would not be possible without Wind Waker's mysterious King of Red Lions. A talking boat with the head of a lion, he guides Link through each step of his journey while acting as his main source of transportation across the world. He even has unique interactions with several of Link's items. However, it is the secrets that the King keeps that make him one of the series' most interesting characters.
The King of Red Lions' true identity is Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, the final king of the kingdom of Hyrule. He took the guise of the boat in order to find a hero that could defeat Ganondorf once and for all, ultimately discovering Link as that hero. His role in the game's finale is also very effective emotionally, as he sacrifices himself to die with Hyrule's memory after Ganondorf's final defeat. Whether he is helping Link sail to Wind Waker's most memorable islands or bidding a him a sad goodbye, the King of Red Lions is the best companion Link has ever had.
Link's companions usually only stay around for one game, but a few have become truly legendary. A good sidekick can become an emblem of their game of origin, as characters such as Midna and the King of Red Lions have shown. While Link is one of gaming's most famous heroes, The Legend of Zelda games wouldn't be the same without his great companions.
