Why Did Link Not Age in Breath of the Wild?
Put simply – the mystical Shrine of Resurrection essentially halted Link‘s entire aging process while he recovered from fatal injuries for 100 years. Like a high-tech fountain of youth, the ancient Sheikah magic preserved our courageous hero‘s life force until he reawakened to save Hyrule once again.
The Shrine‘s Magical Stasis Power
Developer notes for Breath of the Wild give us insight into the shrine‘s power to essentially stop time for Link‘s wounded body. Powered by the mysterious Sheikah tech, it regenerates life energy and prevents any natural aging. So while a century passed outside, Link rested in a healing hibernation completely unchanged down to his last blond strand of hair!
Fans speculate this sacred shrine was built solely for the purpose of restoring the mythical heroes no matter how dire their wounds. So even near death itself, the shrine could freeze Link until Hyrule‘s need calls him back. Pretty handy last resort magic for the land‘s legendary sworn protector!
Link‘s Age and Origins Across the Timelines
| Game | Age | Backstory |
|---|---|---|
| Ocarina of Time | 9-16 years | Kokiri forest child |
| Majora‘s Mask | 16 years | Time traveler searching for Navi |
| Wind Waker | 12-13 years | Island boy guided by King of Red Lions |
| Twilight Princess | 17 years | Goat herder turned village hero |
| Breath of the Wild | 17 years | Knight of Hyrule raised by King Rhoam |
Looking across the Legend of Zelda timelines, our Hylian hero Link takes on many origins but often starts his journey as either a child or young teen on the cusp of adulthood.
The table shows the age variation among different Link incarnations. As Miyamoto explains later, this shifting age spectrum allows all players young and old to put themselves in Link‘s shoes.
And thanks to the Shrine of Resurrection‘s magic, the Link players control in Breath of the Wild gets to hit pause on actually growing up!
Why Miyamoto Created a Timeless Hero
In an Iwata Asks interview for Ocarina of Time 3D, longtime series creator Shigeru Miyamoto gave insight into Link‘s design:
"I wanted Link to be a neutral character that anyone could project themselves onto. If he had real character or a backstory, that wouldn‘t be possible. I wanted players to focus on the adventure itself rather than the protagonist."
This philosophy explains why Link is usually portrayed as an unfamiliar visitor, allowing us to learn about the world as he does. Miyamoto aimed for a heroic blank slate suiting Zelda‘s sense of wonder.
Design documents also confirm they conceptualized Link growing from child to teen in Ocarina since players relate differently to each age. And that coming-of-age story resonated so well it became the model going forward!
Let‘s break down how making Link eternally youthful serves the gameplay and story:
- Younger heroes inspire imagination and proxy-play in young gamers
- Older fans get nostalgia and projection onto teen Links
- Watching Links grow lets players mature alongside journeys
- New Links restart the wonder and discovery in lands like Hyrule
So while Link‘s origins shift, he represents the universally youthful spirit of courage we cheer on adventure after adventure!
The Eternal Spirit of the Hero
Nintendo designer Eiji Aonuma compared Link to iconic heroes like Batman and Superman who pass their legacies between people but retain core ideals. Players might control different Link incarnations, but the virtuous Spirit of the Hero remains to inspire new generations.
Reincarnation lore in the Zelda canon also suggests Link‘s soul returns whenever Hyrule faces great calamity he must vanquish. His spirit bonds with Princess Zelda to seal evil and restore peace. So while each Link differs, the essence persists.
Fans debate endlessly which Link holds the "spirit of the hero" across branching timelines. But Breath of the Wild makes a strong case by depicting Link‘s funeral shrouded in legend. Not just a knight – THE legendary hero resurrected to save Hyrule once more.
So past failures or fallen Links only make this Link‘s return more poignant. Transcending age, we still cheer for the boy hero just named Link who defeats the odds by courage and destiny alone!
The Friendship of Link and Zelda
Looking deeper into the backstories of each Link also leads to interesting theories about how they connect to certain Zeldas across history. And if we piece together the fragmented memories Link recovers in Breath of the Wild‘s story, we get tender glimpses at his history with Princess Zelda before calamity struck:
- Link was a prodigy trainee appointed as Zelda‘s knight
- Despite Zelda‘s initial jealousy, they bonded adventuring
- Link saved Zelda‘s life when guardians turned against them
- They desperately fought Ganon‘s scourge to buy time saving Hyrule
Many fans interpret clues in Link‘s photo memories as evidence he and Princess Zelda grew incredibly close during their studies, training, and research expeditions. This deep history leading up to tragedy makes his selfless sacrifice to save Zelda that much more heroic. And sets up Breath of the Wild‘s quest 100 years later to be an emotional reunion!
Putting Players in the Everlasting Hero‘s Boots
Ultimately, the genius behind Link‘s enduring appeal over 30 years comes down to players always having a chance to step into his iconic green tunic. Miyamoto wanted gamers to FEEL like heroes.
So whether we guide a young farmhand-turned-legend saving clock towns or an amnesiac champion from resurrection sleep – that sense of grand adventure as the righteous Hero of Hyrule persists age after age.
We all have a little Link, Zelda, Impa, or Great Deku Tree in our imaginations from nostalgic memories or seeing endings soar by. And whenever we pick up the controller to continue Ganon‘s saga, Link shakes off the century years magically to let WE the player inherit his unaging courage now!
