16th June 2016, 9:41 PM
Link is already kind of androgynous, swapping the gender wouldn't make much a difference. It seems to me that the problem is that male gamers would have trouble identifying with a female character, hence the resistance. Why is that? People get so butt hurt that their sacred treasures might be changed in the slightest way.
Is the story really so pivotal on a man rescuing a damsel in distress? I see people on FB arguing unironically that the very essence is that link must be male, as essential as having a sword or being the reborn hero of time. It's not even the same damn character every time! Do Dr. Who fans lose their shit at the prospect of a female doctor? Or are game players specifically a bunch of pedantic purists, more resistant to change and getting out their comfort zones than old white conservatives?
Relying on old tropes is a crutch for the creatively lazy. Even if you don't want to alter Link's gender, at least put in levels with Zelda as a playable character. Give her a more active role than weak woman kidnapped by bad man, need good man to save her. Talk about some caveman bullshit.
Is the story really so pivotal on a man rescuing a damsel in distress? I see people on FB arguing unironically that the very essence is that link must be male, as essential as having a sword or being the reborn hero of time. It's not even the same damn character every time! Do Dr. Who fans lose their shit at the prospect of a female doctor? Or are game players specifically a bunch of pedantic purists, more resistant to change and getting out their comfort zones than old white conservatives?
Relying on old tropes is a crutch for the creatively lazy. Even if you don't want to alter Link's gender, at least put in levels with Zelda as a playable character. Give her a more active role than weak woman kidnapped by bad man, need good man to save her. Talk about some caveman bullshit.