Many fans were dismayed at the news of March 29th, discovering that Breath of the Wild 2 would be pushed back until Spring 2023. However, this isn't terrible news as it means they don't want to release the game until it's completely ready.
Link has made his appearance in every Zelda game as well as some other material. He is the face of the franchise, despite his name not being in it. While Breath of the Wild has changed his colors to blue, fans will always be used to seeing Link garbed all in green with his trusty Master Sword in hand.
"Classic" Link
This initial Link is featured in The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. While it may be odd to see Link with brown hair, it's a look that is stuck with many people throughout the years. His duds may be simple, but he's no less heroic than the rest.
In these games, Link delivered some of the most classic elements of the franchise by traversing dangerous dungeons and combatting terrifying foes such as Ganon and Dark Link. While as a character Classic Link is nothing complex he will always hold a special place in many fans' hearts due to being the first.
"A Link to the Past" Link
This is the Link from A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. Also, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, and A Link Between Worlds. While there are two different Links from A Link to the Past they do bare almost identical designs.
A Link to the Past was something of a fresh start to the Zelda franchise. It brought many elements in from the first game yet felt ionately new. The same can be said of Link and his beginnings. Rather than being dropped into the world, he is given a family and an actual crisis that tosses him into the fray. This Link serves as a perfect successor to the "Classic" Link and undergoes many trials as the hero of courage.
"Hyrule Warriors" Link
This is the Link featured in Hyrule Warriors with his cool silver pauldrons and blue scarf. Hyrule Warriors arguably possesses the coolest designs for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. On top of this, the three characters feel new and old.
Link in this game feels like a compilation of himself, embarking on trials of previous games and fighting many recurring bosses throughout the series. Beyond this, there likely aren't any moments cooler in the game than when Link retrieves the Master Sword and then later fights Ganon in the ultimate battle.
"Skyward Sword" Link
The first reincarnation of the original Link. Skyward Sword Link shows fans exactly what it means to be a courageous hero. Link's design in Skyward Sword is one that many fans would have expected for the next 3D installment in the franchise. However, what made this hero's beginnings so different is that his outfit is actually a standard fit amongst the knights of Skyloft.
It isn't often that Link was actually a knight in the games, so to see this for the first time in a while was a nice change. What made this Link so compelling was the origin story. While he is technically the second Link, Skyward Sword uncovers much history in the Zelda franchise.
"Adult" Link
This is the adult version of Link from Ocarina of Time, a game that changed the gaming industry forever. This Link is essentially Link getting down to business. As "Young" Link, fans are incredibly limited and that part serves solely as a sort of prologue to the game. It's playing as "Adult" Link where fans truly have fun, hacking away at challenges and seeing the sorry state of the future world.
What made Link such an interesting character here is that the conclusion is actually bittersweet. He doesn't defeat Ganon for good, only temporarily. And his goodbye to Zelda at the end is always a tearjerker for any fan.
"Toon" Link
"Toon" Link's biggest game was Wind Waker, but this version of Link has also appeared in many other titles such as the Four Swords games, Minish Cap, Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Tri-Force Heroes.
In Wind Waker "Toon" Link offered a far more expressive Link than fans had previously seen. His facial expressions are some of the goofiest moments in Zelda and have conjured many memes. In his cartoon-inspired game, he works as a perfect protagonist that lets players feel the stakes of the game but feel comfortable doing it. "Toon" Link also works as one of the two perfect successors to Ocarina of Time Link as he finally kills Ganondorf with the Master Sword.
"Hylia's Chosen" Link
Not as many fans may be as familiar with this Link, but he is the first Link and is from a Skyward Sword manga in the Hyrule Historia. This Link isn't incredibly powerful nor does he possess a vast amount of useful items and weapons. But what he does have, is courage. In fact, the very beginning of the manga shows him imprisoned for trying to stand up when no one else would.
What makes this Link so compelling isn't his cool design (which is similar to Hyrule Warriors Link) but his courage to stride forward regardless of the outcome. This did see him dead, but because of the courage he showed, the goddess Hylia had the two of them always reincarnated in the forms of Link and Zelda.
"Young" Link
"Young" Link is the Link featured in both Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. While "Young" Link is overshadowed by his adult version in Ocarina of Time, he is even better in Majora's Mask. What made this Link so interesting was with one of the best gameplay mechanics Zelda has introduced with the vast amount of masks Link could use allowing the player to constantly change how the game was played.
This game also showed fans that Link didn't need to "grow up" to become a courageous hero. He has always been one. Majora's Mask still features some of the most unique abilities Link has ever possessed.
"Breath of the Wild" Link
The Link who may be more famous than all of the rest, from the best open world game on the Nintendo Switch--Breath of the Wild. It's no question that this is one of the greatest Links of all time, but why? This Link in all honesty was a bit of a fresh start. Not only is he wearing a new outfit, but he also starts his journey with amnesia.
As the story progresses, he recovers his memories and fans get a glimpse into a complex and emotional backstory. Breath of the Wild likely had more story for Link than any other before. The backstories revealed Link's strong sense of duty to the kingdom of Hyrule and his loyalty to the King and Princess.
"Twilight Princess" Link
The successor to Ocarina of Time Link and he can turn into a wolf. While Wind Waker's "Toon Link" was a great successor to Ocarina of Time Link, Twilight Princess Link really showed everyone up. He too defeats Ganondorf once and for all; but he also undergoes a vastly interesting story where Link, as usual, displays his abnormal courage. Despite a lack of dialogue, Link is expertly able to express emotion and concern for others.
In this game, he completes several acts of heroic deeds as he constantly saves many people throughout the game. Ultimately, he was the perfect hero and the Link needed to save the world. His transformation as a wolf also opened up a unique gaming experience and helped bring more horror elements into the fray.
