The Legend of Zelda is one Nintendo's most iconic series. Countless people have fond memories of helping Link adventure through dungeons to save the princess. The series has churned out a plethora of merchandise for fans to show their appreciation. To this day, several games are taking inspiration from Zelda games of the past, paying homage to this video game giant. It truly is one of most influential video games of all time.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about a new Legend of Zelda game coming to the Wii U. Nintendo intends to release it sometime in 2016 (though this is not yet confirmed). A rumor has come about toward this game, and has been referenced by many people in the staff. Traditionally, the main character, Link, has been the same sword-swinging dude that we've grown to love. In the newest game, however, they may be allowing players to choose between a male or female Link. In an interview with GameSpot, Eiji Aonuma, the head producer of the game, stated that, "I don't want to look too closely at, or give too much information about, who the player character is, because it's supposed to represent the player—him or herself." While it is still unclear, many fans are seeing this as a confirmation of the gender option.
As you can freely guess, there has been a bit of an uproar among a good chunk of the fanbase. Many people are arguing that adding the option to play as a lady Link would be nonsensical. Several have stated that, since there has never been a girl Mario or a girl Star Fox, there is no sense in making a girl Link. The Legend Of Zelda, however, is an entirely different animal. In each game, Link is present, but it is a different Link every time. Throughout the ages, Link is reincarnated whenever trouble is brewing. While Link has typically been a guy, there is nothing in the prophecy that states that the new hero must always be male.
Some fans are assuming that is only being considered because they're humoring the growing population of progressive gamers. It is true that every day, there are more and more people pushing for more diverse characters. However, Nintendo isn't doing this because they "feel pressured," but because they themselves are progressive. They want their players to identify with the triumphs of their avatar.
Throughout the series, the purpose of Link was to represent the player. He didn't have a voice (except for the occasional "HAAA!"), and he was always somewhat gender-neutral. Still, it's always been made clear that Link was a "he." The option the choose your gender in Nintendo games has been an extremely common feature, as it helps players to identify with the struggles of the hero/heroine. While strong women have appeared in the series, they were never playable, and typically didn't see any action. If Nintendo does make this change to the series, it would be a very progressive step in the right direction.
