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By Connor Sheridan published 14 March 2017

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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild makes some massive shake-ups to the 31-year-old series but Link and Zelda themselves haven't changed much. Did you know it could have starred a gritty, bearded Link, or a modern-day hero with a smug grin and a dirt bike instead?

A new making-of documentary series from Nintendo reveals several new pieces of concept art for the hero and the princess, and I have to say.... I think they made the right call. See for yourself.

Link could have been a one-armed swordsman with a beard

This is pretty much Bionic Commando with a creepy mask

He could have been a generic JRPG hero

Or even more weirdly old looking than in Twilight Princess

How about Fantasy Spike from Fantasy Cowboy Bebop?

Maybe the protagonist of a Disney Channel original movie?

What if Metroid was a boy? Also Link?

The designs for Princess Zelda didn't get quite so outlandish (at least not the ones Nintendo was willing to show) but the videos did still reveal some interesting directions for the character.

You may like
  • Ocarina of Time Forget another Ocarina of Time remake – Nintendo needs to get weird with Zelda's 40th anniversary
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda actor would love to see Ocarina of Time remade in Breath of the Wild's engine: "What's not to love?"
  • The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword screenshot Challenges in emulating Zelda titles demonstrates the series' knack for reinvention

This toon-y Zelda bridges the gap between Wind Waker and Ocarina

Here she is all dressed up in slightly more modern fashion

And last but not least, Zelda with a pixie (fairy?) cut

Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!

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CATEGORIES
Nintendo Nintendo Switch Platforms
Connor Sheridan
Connor Sheridan
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Former GamesRadar+ News Writer

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and was formerly a staff writer at GamesRadar+.

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