Link, as we all know, is one of the best-known and most beloved heroes in Nintendo’s vast repertoire. He might actually become number one, if he ever fancied staging a violent coup and burying the Master Sword up to the hilt in Mario’s paunchy belly. Now there’s a mental image to start your day with.
The fact of the matter is, Link is probably well aware of that fact, but would never dream of acting on it. He’s one of those eternal goodly do-gooders who help grandmas crossroads, and cruise over to some obscure island to clean oil off of waterfowls’ feathers for Greenpeace.
Even with all of that said, though, nobody’s perfect. There’s a little darkness in everybody. This isn’t to say that you’ll ever see Mario pulling a Grand Theft Auto on the mean streets of the Mushroom Kingdom, but there’ll be something. At the very least, I’m sure he irritates Peach by leaving moustache hairs in the shower drain.
In Link’s case, we’re talking about his ‘alter ego,’ Dark Link. Technically, this guy is nothing more than a palette swap of the real Link, but he serves as a physical manifestation of all his hostility and anger. He appears throughout the Zelda series, often opposing his goodly counterpart. He usually fights using all of your own techniques, but he’s got a few tricks of his own too. Let’s take a look at 15 Things Dark Link Can Do That The Hero Of Time Can’t.
15 Keep His Darn Bearings In The Water Temple
Now, I’ll admit this right from the off: I’m really not very puzzle-minded. When it comes to a complex, point and click style what-the-heck-do-I-do-with-all-these-obscure-items-in-my-inventory sort of situation, I’m way out of my depth. Grim Fandango just about made my brain dissolve and come dribbling out of my ears.
As such, Ocarina of Time’s infamous Water Temple was not a good time for me in any sort of way. This dungeon is known for confounding players at the best of times, so what chance did I have?
Dark Link, on the other hand, seemed to have no problem navigating the place. There he was, guarding the Longshot; happy and at home like he’s lived there all his life. I had a hell of a time in this place, as you can imagine, only to find that another ‘Link’ already made it through and was ready and waiting.
14 Attack Of The Clones
Now, granted, several versions of the Hero of Time have existed at once. Several times, in fact. I have fond memories of Four Swords Adventures, for instance, and my friends’ complete inability to co-operate and get anything done. A good time was had by all.
Dark Link, however, takes this cloning ability and dials it up to eleven, in a way that the original Link could only dream of. In Hyrule Warriors, Cia begins by summoning one Dark Link to battle our hero, only for thirty craptons of them to appear and join the fray. The cocky Link strides in to take them all out, only to be soundly whupped before his allies step in to save him.
In short, as fun as it is to throw each other off of platforms into pits repeatedly, teamwork pays dividends.
13 The Dark Side Of Streetpass
Back when the 3DS was first released, I was unutterably thrilled by the idea of Streetpass. Where I live, it was tough to find any passes, so those rare occasions that I got that flashing green light to show up were more exciting than I like to admit.
The thing about this function, though, was that it very rarely amounted to much. A little bonus extra here or there in games that supported it, but nothing really substantial. A Link cap for your Mii was one thing, but Dark Link went the whole hog and hopped across to other players’ 3DSs personally.
That’s right. In A Link Between Worlds, you can send a Dark version of yourself to do battle with other players. Your Streetpass warrior’s stats would increase as you achieved more in the game.
12 Rocking That Crown In Style
When it comes to the royal family, our old friend Link is usually content with his servile, bootlicking role. The whole ‘bailing their butts out of trouble’ routine is Link’s place. He’s made his peace with it, he’s accepted it, and he’s darn good at it. Where would Princess Zelda be without Link? What about the whole darn Hylian royal family?
Dark Link, on the other hand, isn’t so keen to serve and not lead. Back in the world of Valiant Comics, Link’s shapeshifting ‘shadow’ was able to disguise himself as Queen Seline, and from there forcibly take the throne of Calatia. Granted, this was darn short-lived, but still. That’s the kind of ambitious, can-do attitude that Link could stand to learn from. Or something.
11 The Perfect Link Variety For Stealth Missions
When you think of stealthy video game stars, the usual suspects surely spring to mind. Solid Snake, for one, or that dude with the cool glasses who does the splits over doorways in Splinter Cell (yes, I know, Sam Fisher). Link, on the other hand, isn’t a character I’d say was big on stealth. He’s all HEEYA and GRAAAH whenever he swings his sword, after all, which doesn’t bode very well for silent takedowns.
That infiltration scene early in The Wind Waker did not go well for me. When it comes to the sneaky-sneaky, I’d give Dark Link the nod instead. Not only can the guy silently appear from no-damn-where, he doesn’t even cast a shadow. Further, you’ll never find him at night, with just his glowing eyes visible.
10 He Gets A Starring Role As A Super Smash Bros. Boss
That’s right, friends. You come across a huge array of opposing Links in the Smash Bros series, true enough. Whether opposing players online, who are spamming projectiles like they’re going out of freaking fashion (which is every Link player ever), or CPU controlled ones in the singleplayer modes. Regular vanilla Link, Young Link, Toon Link, whichever you fancy really.
For me, though, that’s just not good enough. None of these guys get their own Boss Battle™, but their evil twin once removed does. In Super Smash Bros Melee, Event Match 18 pits you against your shadowy counterpart in a Hyrule Temple showdown. The match, dubbed Link’s Adventure, is a nod to Dark Link’s first appearance in The Adventure of Link. It’s a tasty little slice of fanservice if nothing else.
9 Shapeshifting Like A Boss
As any fan of comic books will tell you, it can get a little damn confusing around here. Any long-running icon you care to mention, from Batman to Spider-Man, has been through a whole baffling array of changes and plot twists. We’ve got spin-offs, separate universes, and alternate dimensions out the wazzoo here.
The question of what’s truly canon and what isn’t will keep the nerdly fans raging away on the Marvel forums for decades. All of this brings up a curious point about Dark Link too. In Valiant Comics’ Zelda arc, Link’s ‘shadow’ is a frequent aggressor. He is also seen to boast a fresh new ability not seen elsewhere. Morphing into Princess Zelda’s shape demonstrates that he is not bound to sharing the Hylian hero’s appearance.
8 The Jinx Blade (Because That’s A Thing)
Throughout the series, Link has constantly fallen victim to a recurring status effect known as Jinx. Unlike the usual generic RPG statuses like poison, sleep and blind, this one has a completely unique effect. Jinx amounts to a kind of curse, which can be put on the player by different enemies and attacks depending on the game in question.
While under the effects of Jinx, Link’s equipment (or some of it) will be disabled, preventing him from attacking or defending himself until the curse has worn off. While the Hero of Time has been hit by many a jinx over his career, he has never used this mysterious power to his own advantage. Do you know who has, though? Dark Link, that’s who.
Triforce Heroes’ incarnation of your nemesis is able to inflict Jinx on you with his sword attacks. So that’s a neat trick.
7 Dance On Your Sword Like Michael Freaking Flatley
Link himself, as we know, is a master swordsman. His battle prowess has been proven time and again. His blade-brandishing is unrivaled, his aim with a bow straight and true, his pot smashing frequent, expensive and highly irritating. Who can give him a decent challenge (beyond his studly ginger nemesis Ganondorf)? Himself, that’s who.
If you eventually do find your way to Dark Link’s lair deep in the Water Temple, you’ll find that he –as he usually does throughout the series—fights just like you, with the same skillset and abilities. There is one curious maneuver Dark Link performs that I’ve certainly never seen the main man himself manage: As you swing, your evil counterpart will leap onto your sword for a moment and balance on the blade.
That’s a hell of a party trick there, Dark Link, and I was briefly flabbergasted the first time I saw it.
6 Take ‘Em All On (By Cheating)
In the 3DS’s The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, you’ll come across a survival-based minigame dubbed Take ‘Em All On! It’s run by Joynas in Castle Town, and the setup is simple: defeat every enemy in the room to proceed to the next one, and continue until you reach the boss. Beat them to win. It’s simple, violent, to the point, and leaves no room for misinterpretation. I’m not a puzzling sort of guy, but this, I can approve of.
The issue arises at the end of level 3 of the game. The whole thing culminates in a battle with Dark Link, and the cheeky a-hole has full access to bombs, arrows and all the usual Link-y paraphernalia while you’re stuck with just your sword. What kind of hax magic is this?
5 He’s Got All The Moves, All The Edgy
Which brings us to another thing Dark Link can do that the Hero of Time can’t: fit right the hell in at a mid 2000s My Chemical Romance gig. By his very nature, Dark Link is a shadowy and ephemeral being (not to be confused with Shadow Link, who we’ll meet later), the dark and brooding Yin to vanilla Link’s heroic HYAH! GYAH! Yang.
What does this mean? For one thing, he’s infinitely cooler-looking than regular ol’ Link, if that’s your bag. He’s generally depicted as an all-black being with piercing, demonic red eyes. As a result, whenever you played a Link online in Super Smash Bros Wii U/3DS, they would ALWAYS be using the Dark Link color scheme. It’s the cool, edgy choice to make.
4 Jump Out Of His Own Darn Shadow
As I say, The Legend of Zelda is among gaming’s longest running and most beloved franchises. This is a big darn deal right here, friends. During its long run, the series and its various Links have evolved, developed and prospered. Our hero has been endowed with all kinds of powers and abilities, including that new-fangled open world fast travel business with Breath of the Wild.
For the most part, though, regular old Link has been constrained by the laws of physics. His shadow (again, not Shadow Link, that’s a different entity entirely) remains firmly affixed to his feet, and all good, trustworthy human shadows do. Dark Link, meanwhile, is the kind of reckless renegade who gives no effs about any of this sort of thing, and has been seen disguising itself as the very shadow Link casts and leaping free from it.
3 If All Else Fails, He’s Got A Great Career As A Mime To Fall Back On
Do you remember that NPC who would trade you a Mr. Mime in Pokémon Red and Blue? Probably not, because I’m the only person in the world who likes Mr. Mime, but there was one. The Pokémon’s name is Marcel when you receive it, presumably in reference to the legendary French clown and mime Marcel Marceau.
I’m sharing this super thrilling little aside with you for one reason: I love mimes. Curiously, back at the Water Temple encounter with Dark Link, there’s a way to make the guy mimic your movements completely, by stunning him very precisely with Deku Nuts. If you do this, not only will Dark Link stop and pant along with you when you’re low on hearts, but he’ll also slowly stomp around if you’re wearing the Iron Boots.
2 Me And My Shadow: Being Mistaken For Shadow Link. Repeatedly
Valiant Comics’ Zelda story, as I say, sees Dark Link referred to as Link’s shadow, or just simply named Shadow. Whether this was accidental or intention, it’s tough to say, but it’s definitely totally understandable.
It’s easy to confuse Dark Link and Shadow Link, after all, because they look almost exactly the darn same. Both entities are characterized by jet-black clothing and skin, and sporting terrifying glowing eyes that would leave Lord of the Rings’ Nazgul soiling their undercrackers. They were both also born of negative emotions; anger, resentment, and fear on both Link and Ganondorf’s part.
The difference between the two is the means of their creation. Shadow Link is a physical manifestation of Ganon’s purely malicious thoughts, brought into this world via the Dark Mirror.
1 Surviving Being Sliced In Half, Because He’s A Boss
The Legend of Zelda, by and large, isn’t known as a super difficult series. Dark Souls, this is not. There are optional challenges that can prove tough, and puzzles that might leave you sobbing on the kitchen lino in the fetal position for a while, but you can generally make your way through the story without too much suffering.
Even with that said, you don’t want to run into Ocarina of Time’s Master Quest or some of Breath of the Wild’s trials of strength unprepared. Those hearts of yours can be wiped out in an instant.
Link isn’t as resilient as you might think. Dark Link, meanwhile, was sliced in half in the Ocarina of Time manga, and still came back for more. That’s some chutzpah right there.
