Thanks for watching aaand by the way, we're playing Twilight Princess right now over on the other channel... in case you were interested th-cam.com/users/banditplaysvideogames
I thought ordona came into existince because of the marriage or love between oot link and malon. I dont know if thats real or a thing i heard but i thought it was real. No one talks about it so i might making my own lore. Thats the only thing I don’t see fitting about this theory. Great video
I know Voice acting isnt a big part of the Zelda Franchise but the voice actor listed for the Heroes shade in twilight princess even back in 2006 is Nobuyuki Hiyama the same man who voiced Adult Link in Ocarina of time even back in 1998 what i dont know is if they just reused his voice "grunts" from ocarina of time and put a filter on them or if he actually stepped into the voice acting booth again all those years later
It's not necessarily the case that EVERYONE forgot about the Hero of Time. The premise of the Child Timeline is that Link, upon returning, warned Zelda and the king about Ganondorf and his true intentions, as well as what would happen if he got his way. Naturally, in order to make his case, Link must also have told them that he traveled through time and saw firsthand what happened. It's very possible (and I believe it was also stated as such in Historia or Encyclopedia) that the reason the Hero of Time was not a "hero" in his own timeline is because the truth about him traveling through time had to be kept secret among the Royal Family. The story could not have been entirely forgotten, as it was most likely written in some closely-guarded historical records for future generations of the Royal Family to ensure that they understood why it happened and to honor his memory in their own way.
@@Thedestroyer2031 I think it's possible the Hero's Shade never pulled the Master Sword. Looking at just two scenarios... If he became a traveling knight? He can't exactly bring along one of Hyrule's greatest treasures with him. Became a knight for the Royal Family? He doesn't exactly require the Master Sword for most scenarios.
Its also likely that the Kokiri and entities like Skull Kid were also aware of what Link did. As he was returned back to his timeline before meeting Zelda, but not before leaving the forest or the death of The Deku Tree. That's probably why that stone tablet was allowed to exist at all, says what it says, and why he was buried with honors in the forest under a great tree. Something* I can't imagine is common for the Hylian people.
I always assumed that Link used the Triforce of Courage to prove to Zelda and the King of Hyrule that Ganondorf was evil. Undeniable proof that he was chosen by the gods and that his warnings are true.
And the matter of WHEN he comes back to is important. Did he come back BEFORE the 3 spiritual stones? Or did he come back AFTER the 3 spiritual stones. I figured it was after, so people like the Goron's still revere him, and thus keep his gear.
If it wasn't for Malon the Hero of Time would surely be the most miserable person in existence. It's oddly reassuring in Twilight Princess to still hear Malon's voice echoing throughout Hyrule Fields at night. As if she knew from beyond the grave that her beloved Link still roamed Hyrule as a troubled spirit and she sang to him at night to ease his pain.
@@ultimate_plebwell as ridiculous as this person's statement is, have you never heard of time zones? It may have been 10 am where you were when this was posted but it wasn't 10 am all over the world or even all over the US.
This is my theory: The Hero of Time’s legacy in Twilight Princess makes perfect sense when you look at the bigger picture. In the Child Timeline, Link’s actions as a kid, like saving the Gorons from Dodongo’s Cavern and the Zoras from Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, earned him recognition as a hero among these races. These stories would’ve been passed down, especially by the Zora and Goron royal families. Later, as an adult, Link probably went on more adventures, fought in wars, and reacquired or even crafted the tools he used before, like the Hookshots. He may have even explored the Sky Islands, where the Sky Hero’s legacy ties in. Maybe the Sky Hero left one Hookshot behind, or Link retrieved them himself. The sages and spirits, who exist beyond time, also preserved the Hero of Time’s memory. Even though most people in Hyrule didn’t celebrate his deeds in this timeline, the sages passed down his story to the royal families-the Zoras, Gorons, Hylians, and even the Gerudo-through their sages. This way, the Hero of Time’s legacy was kept alive as part of the “ancient hero” myth. His tools and weapons became symbols of courage, blending his actions with those of the Sky Hero and other past champions. So, in Twilight Princess, we’re seeing how these legends evolved into a unified story that honors Hyrule’s greatest heroes across timelines.
When Link travels through time to the future and hirst meet Sheik, he tells Link that he looks closer to the hero of legend. That may be a reference to the Hero of the Skies
You could interpret it this way but it certainly wasn't written with that intention I would think since the Hero of the Skies didn't exist yet irl for the devs to reference. Maybe you could make the argument that Skyward Sword was already planned but that seems very unlikely.
@@donovanfaust3227More like it was just referencing some unspecified earlier Link. Then, when they made Skyward Sword, they made sure to put references to Twilight Princess in it to bring it full circle and flesh it out.
I've been championing this "theory" forever.Skyward Sword and TP share so many connections. From small insignificant things like Pumpkins to tear vessels, I'm shocked it's taken people this long to realize the armor of TP Link which was born FROM HIS SPIRIT is SS Link's armor, it was beyond obvious.
@Powermaster14 No, it wasn't, TP was never intended to be an origin. If anything, Nintendo took the oocca backstory and expanded on the idea of people from the sky for Skyward Sword. Then Nintendo deliberately put the double clawshots in SS(gave them an origin) made Link have chain mail armor, put pumpkins in the game and re used tear vessel. They very clearly wanted to connect it to TP, even designed the bow to look similar and left the Triforce out in the open at the end of the game just like TP backstory.
@@nworder4life yeah makes sense to me. Especially releasing in the same console gen technically, makes sense SS dev likely started very quickly after TP/Crossbow and they had some connections in mind. Especially if they were thinking of making Skyward the origin out the gate.
What I think happened was when oot Link came back from Termina he didn't like how no one recognized him as a hero so he went around Hyrule doing heroic deeds based on his knowledge of the future. Overtime people would begin to recognize him as a hero which would lead to him being gifted the armor he wears as Hero's Shade. Also I think oot Link and ss Link are related and oot Link finds out about this at some point so models a tunic in memory of his ancestor because remember the 7 hidden skills are part of their bloodline and ss Link did use the ending blow on Demise so he probably passed it down.
That's an interesting idea, it would explain why he's able to pass things on to TP Link too since this means that OoT Link gained a certain level of enlightenment, allowing him to communicate with past and future Links 🤔
@@homerman76 I feel like it's due to the spirit of the hero that the Links can communicate with each other. At the end of Skyward Sword Demise warns Link that his hatred will haunt Link and Zelda for eternity because of this Link went on to train his children in order for them to combat the evil until he died but his vigor lived on becoming the Hero's Spirit which possesses different Links and gives them strength and allows some communication. This is why the Hero's Shade brings TP Link in a ghost realm they're inside the Hero's spirit.
@@homerman76 I think it is more likely that at some point OoT link went back to the temple of time and was able to communicate with Fi who still resided in the master sword to learn the skills.
Link from Skyward Sword is most likely the Ancient Hero mentioned. The tunic is the same, the Hero's Bow is kept safe by the Gorons, the one race that was on the surface at that time and still is, and Renado could be connected to the Sheikah and the notable one from that time is Impa who would've passed the story down to her people
I remember coming across a theory suggesting that Colin might actually be the Wind Waker Link in a parallel timeline. Neither of them are directly descended from the Hero’s bloodline, yet both demonstrate remarkable courage and share the common trait of having a younger sister.
The reason he was never able to share his skills was because he wasn't recognized as the Hero of Time in his own timeline; thus, "the Hero's Shade", a "shade" or "shadow" of what he used to be. Also, it could be likely that Hero of Time Link died before his own children were old enough to teach his skills to, so they never learned them. This is how I always saw it, anyway.
It seems kinda obvious to me that the reason the Hero couldn't pass on hos skills to the next generation because there was no evil and therefore no need for it.
It can be both, the Hero's Shade IS the Hero of time, as stated in the Hyrule Historia. The Hero of Legend however, is the the Hero of the Sky. They aren't mutually exclusive.
Oohhh i like this! Something i really like with every new installation of zelda games is when we retroactively get answers to questions i didn't know we had. But it's also not the kinds of things that are ever stated outright, so the community has to really dig to find these explanations.
I think you make a really valid point about the fact that 100 or so years ago not being nearly long enough for the Hero of Time to be regarded as "Ancient," and with Skyward Sword being the next 3D Zelda game Nintendo made, it's very likely that they drew inspiration from Twilight Princess when coming up with the lore it establishes, especially with the double clawshot being an item you receive (it's just such a specific item that both Links receive.) I do think others are right that he wasn't entirely forgotten since the Royal family seem to have noted him and we know he went on to have kids so his life probably wasn't so bad after Majora's Mask 🤔
Man i missed videos like this. I just recently finished reading the twilight princess manga and this game has become even more rooted into my soul than it already was before. God i love twilight princess.
I always thought of it as a low key hint at the "next Link". Colin grows up trained by Link and Rusl, he dons Link's clothes out of respect for the man who taught him what true courage meant, and he has his own heroic adventure. We see at the end of TP Colin is actually wielding a sword and shield looking like a 1:1 copy of young Link, so obviously the next generation was inspired. I always wished we got a "bait and switch" Zelda game where we Thought we were playing as Link, but it turns out that we are just playing as an older Colin and the message of the game is about how even non-Triforce wielders can have courage and save the world.
It’s funny that you’re recently playing twilight princess same here. I got it on the Wii I just want to relive the nostalgia again it’s been nearly 8 years since I last played it man doing all the puzzles again feels just the same like the last time I played it😂, but it also puts me in a heavy emotional state that I don’t feel the same for the newer generation Zelda games as I do for the previous ones I love, tears the kingdom and breath of the wild, but for some reason, the older Zelda games just put me in a better place in my heart than those two even though I put over thousand hours of gameplay, it just doesn’t hit the same
Thank goodness for malon, with out her link surly would have had no light left in his heart, but because she befriended him and they became family, had children who then was able to survive to become a hero link could shape and bring him back his honor and joy.
Great Video! I like to think that after Majora's Mask, he served as a knight in the hyrulean army, and then started a family with Malon (as we know that TP Link is the direct descendent of the Hero of Time), and set up Ordon Village with her, but in times of peace after the war, his children didn’t want to become warriors and he didn’t want to force them to go through what he did when it wasnt needed in their time. I think he died of old age, with still the lingering regert of no one knowing his true accomplishments and his skills as a warrior being no longer necessary in this time, as his true enemy, "the cruel flow of time", would win in the end. He would be buried where he grew up, in the Kokiri forest by the sacred tree (a tombstone in TP hyrule castle hints at that), buried not in his green tunic that he saved the world twice in, but instead his knightly armor, as everyone (expect the royal family persumably) would not remember him as the Hero of Time, but simply as a solider who fought in battle. He would linger as a restless spirit until he could pass down his techniques to his descendent, where he would finally be at peace and pass on, much like many of the spirits/people link healed in Majoras Mask. Truly a Tragic Story, with a small happy end.
Man, the Hero of Time is such a boss that not even Death could take him in the end. Hell, with all the ... (Fan Games) Even he gets the majority of him. Most beloved hero of the franchise.
Theory makes sense. I feel like it's still possibly the hero of time post termina. when he returned to hyrule like he returned to be a hero in a different light as a high ranking knight. Since he would've developed skills in the terminal travels and on the path back while still searching for navi. We never really get a resolution to that quest. I think there just more to it we've haven't seen to OOTs returned kid link
you dont even need to go through outside sources to know the shade is OOT link. its storytelling, someone made the choice to give the shade the details of the scabbard and having him be links (TP links) ancestor and have him know OOT and MM songs. if it was real life it would be debatable but here that is intentional. i feel like a lot of theory crafting channels completely forget that
3:30 Y'know, every once in a while as I age I get a slap in the face to remind me I'm not a kid any more. I was a teenager when TP came out. I bought it with money I made at my own job. And when you said "over the last 20 years" I literally had to google the release date. I couldn't believe it. XD not quite, but friggin' close enough.
I think with how much TP is intended to be a spiritual successor to OoT, the "hero of legend" was probably *intended* to be the Hero of Time, but as you have pointed out, there are enough flaws in that narrative to really lend credence to the idea that they're referring to SS Link. Skyward Sword including design elements from Twilight Princess for the outfit, Bow, and clawshots are just icing on the cake
Now that's a solid theory. There have been a lot of theories that have popped up in the last few years, but many of them just seem to be so flimsy and unlikely. It's refreshing to hear a really well thought out one again.
I always thought this was something that was solved a long time ago, it just seemed like one of the clearest story points I'd seen in a zelda game. I loved the idea that an ancient link was there for the current hero, whether it was Hero of Time / Termina, or the Hero of Skies!
When you segwayed into Skyward Sword Link bring the ancient hero, it brought a HUGE SMILE to my face! Skyward Sword is tied with Twilight Princess as my favorite Zelda games of all time!
I find myself trapped in a loop of watching videos about the Hero's Shade and expecting to learn something new. I wish they''d just give him his own game at this point.
Ok this really itches my brain in the perfect way. Its really weird to say, but Hero's Shade is most likely my favourite Zelda character JUST because his lore is so deep and intricate.... And so tragic :') AND DUD I LOVE LOVE the theory that the ancient Hero IS Skyward Sword Link,,, like I had an itch something was connecting between the two when I first played SS. Maybe it was just the artstyle but I had a thought for so long that they look so much alike, so I so very much support that theory of the Ancient hero BEING SS Link, AAA!!!
Link was cursed to not sleep until he prepared the future, probably a self-inflicted one (think Majora). Many argue that using the Song of Healing to first summon him is the evidence for that. There's also the unmistakable singing voice of Malon heard at night in the fields. Which in my opinion, is just Malon's spirit remaining fixed to the world in a similar way to Link's. Malon stays out of love for her husband, waiting for the Shade to fulfill his mission so they can ascend together... What still has to be answered though, is how he lost his eye.
The Hero's Shade is not the lingering soul of the Hero of Time, but a manifestation of his regret. The Hero of Twilight is the reincarnation of the Hero of Time. In a sense he is reconnecting with himself and just requiring memories of his past life battle experiences. The Hero's Shade is like an echo left behind after the Hero of Times death, perhaps his emotions of regret were so strong it manifested into the ghost who trained Link in Twilight Princess. The Hero of Time is probably the Hero of Twilights great grandfather, so there is the blood connection and the reincarnation process. All Links in the Child Timeline are one and the same soul, from Skyward Sword to Twilight Princess. Just as Princess Zelda is the reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia, both are reincarnated Time and again when a great evil appears.
I actually love this theory it makes a ton of sense as this is the only link who interacts with the Ooccoo an ancient race from the very beginning of the timeline likely before Ss link. Idk what this actually means but it shows that this line has a major connection to the Ss era aside from just his gear
I always find it funny when people talk about link being left or right handed regarding this game since TP famously inverted the map and controls from GC to the Wii version so the sword would be on the right like the wiimote
I still like the theory that the Hero's Shade died during a war between Hyrule and Gerudo after the events of Majora's Mask. The idea that Ganondorf would be imprisoned immediately after a strange fairy boy breaks into the castle and tells the princess that he's evil is a little too unbelievable to me.
It makes sense, if said war went on for a decade or so, it'd explain why the sages are different and why it took so long for Ganondorf and Zant to break out of the Twilight Realm. It'd also explain why the Gerudo desert is devoid of anything relating to the Gerudo and contains the Arbiter's grounds, it's where all of those that chose to side with Ganondorf would have been detained after the war (many of which were likely monsters, like how there's the idea that Iron Knuckles are transformed Gerudo, and why Stallord is surrounded by a lot of dead soldiers since it was likely something Ganondorf conjured during the war.)
Tbf Link did have the mark of the Triforce on his hand when he spoke to Zelda at the very end of OoT. That itself would have been proof enough for the king to at least hear him out, if not outright believe him.
@erikledune9292 I've never considered that before. Yeah, even with as bad of a track record the Kings of Hyrule have at making decisions, that would make sense.
@@DemonicAdj I think that's what led to Majora's Mask. Princess Zelda gave him the Ocarina of Time before Link left Hyrule, and I'd be surprised if he didn't at least help the Gorons and Zora before he left. No Ruby, no Sapphire, no Emerald, no Ocarina. No passage to the Sacred Land. Of course, they also had no way of knowing that Ganondorf already had a third of the Triforce, except via educated guess. I think the war was plan B, because plan A was opening the Doors of Time.
I like the idea that he’s a hero we haven’t seen yet. With the fact that LoZ games jump around the timeline it makes potential theories out of future games
I’ll be Frank, everything you talk about here was information I always felt was… pretty blatantly obvious to the point of being common knowledge. As close to “confirmed” as interlinking Zelda theories get. If there are people who disagree with the hero of Legend being SS Link, the Hero’s Shade being OoT Link, or the hero of legend being different from the Shade, I’ve never encountered them before, and that’s wild.
The games present things rather straight forward. None of Link's heirs cared to learn his sword technique in a peaceful time to prepare for the next threat. So Link just ... stuck around, waiting till one of them was.
This makes a lot of sense. The Ancient Hero was not known to us yet until 2011 in 2006. But now Aonuma's "Oh, I see," comment about TP HD is making even more sense since they made a trilogy of SS, BotW, and TotK.
Hero of Time Link married Malon and TP Link is their great great grandchild, that's always been my own canon. Also, the ruins in the lost woods, I just always assumed they were the ruins of the Forest Temple from OOT, just destroyed after a great battle/over the years.
The Hero's Shade is definitely the Hero of Time. I didn't like the idea back when it was just a fan theory but it's grown on me since. The idea of what happened to him after returning to his own time only for his deeds to be forgotten, known only to him and Zelda, then to become a decorated knight of Hyrule but without a successor... Bittersweet and a good way to give him character without overdoing it.
Another point that speaks for this theory is that e.g. the ending blow (or the shield one) is a technique used by the ss Link. Additionally both Links end their endboss with the ending blow
Bro back when I was young I got Zelda The WindWaker free for the gamecube. And it was one of the greatest games I ever played. I still remember literally every single thing about it even tho it’s been like 15 years and I have bad memory. I didn’t know anything about Zelda before or After so if there is a better Zelda game PLEASE recommend it to me. I would 100% play it.
Hey Bandit: You're really becoming kinda an *UNPREDICTABLE* and I will just never know *WHERE* or even *WHEN* you're going to show up.... Do you want to know something though? I actually enjoy this and I look forward to seeing what else you got cooking. {Bows down with an immense smile} *"All hail our Lord, Bandit!!!"* ~ JonseyG 👲💖🎉
I've often argued that the Hero of Time Link was remembered as a hero, but that it just wasn't enough for his traumatized mind. He was trying to live up to his own imagined greatness, rather than the needs of the people. That said, the connections to the Hero of the Skies seems solid.
I know none of this was thought of when TP came out because SW hadn't been written or released yet, but I like this theory because it fits. 10/10 headcannon
I hereby request that all future Zelda comics where all the Links come together and perform shenanigans, OoT Link is just the Hero’s shade and not the child nor adult form
plot twist, hero's shade its not link from Oot, it's a decendant, remember that green skin gerudos live for centuries ? ganondorf execution happened right before Oot link spilled the beans, 100ish years passed, hero's shade is a decendant from link not him, just as every zelda is a reincarnation of hylia, every descendant of the hero is gonna be a golden wolf, except TP link, why ? because his wolf is grey, not golden, TP link is indeed a chosen hero, but his case is similar to WW link, he's not a decendant, he just happen to be a boy with enough courage to become the new hero of hyrule, someone with a similar heroic soul hero's shade never calls out that TP link is his descendant, he just tells him "i never passed down my skills to my family, so now i pass them to you"
Was the Hero's Shade said to be a Hero for Hyrule or that he was a Hyrule from Hyrule. If his regret is never being remembered as a Hero then this fits the Hero of Time perfectly. He wouldn't be remembered for his actions in the adult timeline and if he proved himself a Hero in another land, Termina, then he wouldn't be remembered as a Hero in Hyrule. The Hero of Time stopped Ganondorf in the adult timeline and saved the land of Termina, so he would have had every right to the title of Hero, but to the people of Hyrule in the child timeline he would have been just a kid spinning a tale.
My headcanon is that he had somehow travelled to the Twilight Realm. He is able to turn into a wolf and knew a descendant would be able to since he is placed the Howling Stones around Hyrule. If anything, he is probably the one that started the Twili prophecy of the Sacred Beast saving them. Just shows that him being able to transform means he came in contact with Twilight at some point. Couldve explored the Lost Woods and found some weird stuff lol. You can argue that he subdued Ganondorf during the war since he basically set up a lot if in case his descendant came into contact with Twilight and turned into a wolf.
I like this theory. I agree that the ancient hero was probably Skyward Link. I think Ghost Link could be either OG Adult Link *or* Kid Link grown up, because spirits from the beyond may not necessarily be bound into one time stream.
I agree with your sentiment about the Hero's Shade. He IS child Link from Majora's Mask, all grown up and half stalfos, (because "everyone without a fairy gets lost and turned into stalfos. Everybody. Stalfos.") As far as the legendary hero referenced in this game, we don't know enough information. There is one hero that we don't know enough about that might fit the bill. But he comes with his own mysteries. There's a small mention of a hero at the beginning of Minish Cap. As far as I know, this is the only time he is mentioned, unless they are talking about Twilight Princess's legendary hero. The Hero of Men. Using the Picori Blade and the Light Force, singlehandedly won The War of the Bound Chest, driving all the monsters and demons attacking Hyrule into a magic chest. Sealing away The Evil Army up until the events of Minish Cap. Now, just because the shoe fits doesn't mean we should wear it. But I would say events that fall in between Skyward Sword and Minish Cap would be considered, "ancient." What do you think, Bandit?
@chubbsthestuntmonkey7262 There's nothing to suggest the hero of men was the ancient hero, but we have a bunch of evidence connecting the ancient hero to SS Link.
About the hero's bow, I think it's possible oot link got it somehow off screen and gave it to the gorons. Given when link got set back, Barinade and King dodongo had to be dealt with. Given the relationship link forges with the gorons, and how they have that bow, its possible he went onto save them again.
The real answer is that they didn't consider which hero of legend at all while developing the game, but that's not an in-universe answer. I was firmly in the "it's the hero of time" camp until now, but you made a solid argument that it makes more sense to be the Skyward Hero.
While not a theory per say I like to believe after (AT)Zelda sent the Hero in Time back in time she had front row seats to the Triforce of Courage exploading in her face.
fun theory idea, The TotK timeline proved itself to be in the windwaker timeline. The sky islands are the floating islands before the water drains away, since gods were involved in the flood, and the creations of the islands, they stay high in the sky. The people of Wind waker don't have connection to Zelda, Hyrule or anything else since that's been lost to their time. Sonia is more similar to Tetra than any other zelda character and would explain her darker skin tone and not having the zelda name despite having hylia's powers. And finally the King of Red Lions wished away all of the evils of the past, and as such the ganondorf of TotK is a new Ganondorf, the reincarnation of the previous one who finally died in Wind waker. Oh and the other imprisoning war was in a different timeline, and as such can happen in this one as well.
in a similar side note, I think the Zonai were the Twili interlopers, who when the King wished away hyrule, unofficially unbanished them from the twilight realm. And like how hylians change when they enter the twilight realm, the Zonai turned into the Twili when they were forced into the twilight realm. but that's a different theory.
I like to think that the Hero of Time saved Hyrule again years later in the child timeline, which is where he gained the armor and became known as a Hero. As for the tunic, I interpret the Light Spirit's words as it being metaphorically the same, but the actually tunic itself was personally made for the Hero of Twilight by the light spirits.
Something to add to this. The hero of time of the child timeliness WAS a hero. A hero of termina. And how he resembles the king of ikana in his shade form. Perhaps his armor set and such is that of the ikana region
What if the people still consider Link’s feats from the timeline that “never happened?” They may seem fantastical, but it’s likely that the now surviving sages backed up the child Link’s claims: not only of Ganondorf’s wrongdoings, but of his heroic actions in the other timeline, as well. Think about it! If his heroic actions weren’t taken seriously, Ganondorf’s supposed villainy that hadn’t canonically happened yet simply WOULDN’T have been considered, and he wouldn’t have been charged for crimes that he hadn’t yet committed. Plus, we must also consider that from here, in the new timeline, the Hero of Time goes on to be a Hyrule soldier of sorts and dies a valiant death: meaning that he’s got quite a number of legends to pull from across time and space, but that actually did happen. Adventures from the past and futures that never were, adventures into the depths of Termina, trials against enemies as an armored soldier to his valiant end…it’s no different than Arthurian tales which we contest to this day. I think many of the people still came to know of Link’s epic tales as Adult Link. It was a future the people were spared from, but the stories were passed on as a cautionary tale to never repeat the same mistakes. To always avoid another Ganondorf.
When you mentioned that thing about 'hammering the hero of legend', you should've said something about the megaton hammer, as a related item link used in oot, AND as a pun. 2 birds, 1 stone.
I don’t think ocarina of time link’s life was as bad as we make it out to be sure he was a ghost for a couple decades or something, but considering that twilight princess link is the hero of time’s descendant means he settled down and found love and started a family allowing him to enjoy the period of peace that he helped to create. And plus teaching his successor gave him the fulfilment that he needed as he knew his legacy would live on through twilight princess link and that Hyrule’s safety was left in capable hands. If you read through this essay thank you take free apple juice and cake as a reward 🎂 🧃
Damn, that was a good one. I really enjoyed this one. Here's a thought. Is it confirmed how Ganandorf was captured? Is it possible he formed an uprising that Link could have stopped when he was a bit older helping to imprison him causing him to become a hero of a different title in the child timeline? Just a thought.
Honestly it could be both in some of these contexts that you mentioned, but I’m guessing specifically the Hero of Shade is still OOT link. Main reason? The hidden skills. While 2 -5 don’t resemble anything OOT link can do in his game. 1,6 and the final skill are things that ONLY OOT link has been known to do in that part of the timeline and before. But that’s just me tbh
Thanks for watching aaand by the way, we're playing Twilight Princess right now over on the other channel... in case you were interested th-cam.com/users/banditplaysvideogames
Hey you should watch zeltiks video on the heroes shade because I think that is the most accurate in my opinion.
Young Link had at least saved the Zora Princess and helped the Gorons. Doesn't that count?
I thought ordona came into existince because of the marriage or love between oot link and malon. I dont know if thats real or a thing i heard but i thought it was real. No one talks about it so i might making my own lore. Thats the only thing I don’t see fitting about this theory. Great video
I know Voice acting isnt a big part of the Zelda Franchise but the voice actor listed for the Heroes shade in twilight princess even back in 2006 is Nobuyuki Hiyama the same man who voiced Adult Link in Ocarina of time even back in 1998 what i dont know is if they just reused his voice "grunts" from ocarina of time and put a filter on them or if he actually stepped into the voice acting booth again all those years later
It's not necessarily the case that EVERYONE forgot about the Hero of Time. The premise of the Child Timeline is that Link, upon returning, warned Zelda and the king about Ganondorf and his true intentions, as well as what would happen if he got his way. Naturally, in order to make his case, Link must also have told them that he traveled through time and saw firsthand what happened. It's very possible (and I believe it was also stated as such in Historia or Encyclopedia) that the reason the Hero of Time was not a "hero" in his own timeline is because the truth about him traveling through time had to be kept secret among the Royal Family. The story could not have been entirely forgotten, as it was most likely written in some closely-guarded historical records for future generations of the Royal Family to ensure that they understood why it happened and to honor his memory in their own way.
Perhaps he became a hero later in life, given that he likely pulled the Master Sword again at some point. Maybe for some unknown adventure
@@Thedestroyer2031
I think it's possible the Hero's Shade never pulled the Master Sword.
Looking at just two scenarios...
If he became a traveling knight? He can't exactly bring along one of Hyrule's greatest treasures with him.
Became a knight for the Royal Family? He doesn't exactly require the Master Sword for most scenarios.
Its also likely that the Kokiri and entities like Skull Kid were also aware of what Link did. As he was returned back to his timeline before meeting Zelda, but not before leaving the forest or the death of The Deku Tree. That's probably why that stone tablet was allowed to exist at all, says what it says, and why he was buried with honors in the forest under a great tree. Something* I can't imagine is common for the Hylian people.
I always assumed that Link used the Triforce of Courage to prove to Zelda and the King of Hyrule that Ganondorf was evil. Undeniable proof that he was chosen by the gods and that his warnings are true.
And the matter of WHEN he comes back to is important. Did he come back BEFORE the 3 spiritual stones? Or did he come back AFTER the 3 spiritual stones. I figured it was after, so people like the Goron's still revere him, and thus keep his gear.
If it wasn't for Malon the Hero of Time would surely be the most miserable person in existence.
It's oddly reassuring in Twilight Princess to still hear Malon's voice echoing throughout Hyrule Fields at night. As if she knew from beyond the grave that her beloved Link still roamed Hyrule as a troubled spirit and she sang to him at night to ease his pain.
As someone whose first Zelda game was OoT, it's bittersweet to know that the version of Link I first played as will become the Hero's Shade.
Indeed. While his heroic exploits were lost to another timeline, he still remained a badass to the bitter end.
That’s a fan theory. It's been debunked years ago.
@asdergold1 Yep. Hyrule historia fans always spreading misinformation
@@OlyOly-l7l isnt hyrule historia facts
@@asdergold1 Lol? Its literally fact.
Posting a twilight princess theory during twilight hours irl is genius btw
It's always twilight somewhere in the world
10am is not twilight hours dude
@@ultimate_plebwell as ridiculous as this person's statement is, have you never heard of time zones? It may have been 10 am where you were when this was posted but it wasn't 10 am all over the world or even all over the US.
Homie forgot about time zones 😂
This is my theory: The Hero of Time’s legacy in Twilight Princess makes perfect sense when you look at the bigger picture. In the Child Timeline, Link’s actions as a kid, like saving the Gorons from Dodongo’s Cavern and the Zoras from Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, earned him recognition as a hero among these races. These stories would’ve been passed down, especially by the Zora and Goron royal families. Later, as an adult, Link probably went on more adventures, fought in wars, and reacquired or even crafted the tools he used before, like the Hookshots. He may have even explored the Sky Islands, where the Sky Hero’s legacy ties in. Maybe the Sky Hero left one Hookshot behind, or Link retrieved them himself.
The sages and spirits, who exist beyond time, also preserved the Hero of Time’s memory. Even though most people in Hyrule didn’t celebrate his deeds in this timeline, the sages passed down his story to the royal families-the Zoras, Gorons, Hylians, and even the Gerudo-through their sages. This way, the Hero of Time’s legacy was kept alive as part of the “ancient hero” myth. His tools and weapons became symbols of courage, blending his actions with those of the Sky Hero and other past champions. So, in Twilight Princess, we’re seeing how these legends evolved into a unified story that honors Hyrule’s greatest heroes across timelines.
When Link travels through time to the future and hirst meet Sheik, he tells Link that he looks closer to the hero of legend. That may be a reference to the Hero of the Skies
You could interpret it this way but it certainly wasn't written with that intention I would think since the Hero of the Skies didn't exist yet irl for the devs to reference. Maybe you could make the argument that Skyward Sword was already planned but that seems very unlikely.
@@kharlanhero4428 or any of the other games that came before like minish cap
@@donovanfaust3227More like it was just referencing some unspecified earlier Link.
Then, when they made Skyward Sword, they made sure to put references to Twilight Princess in it to bring it full circle and flesh it out.
I've been championing this "theory" forever.Skyward Sword and TP share so many connections. From small insignificant things like Pumpkins to tear vessels, I'm shocked it's taken people this long to realize the armor of TP Link which was born FROM HIS SPIRIT is SS Link's armor, it was beyond obvious.
TP was made years before skyward sword so it was the start of the time how everything started before hyrule
@Powermaster14 No, it wasn't, TP was never intended to be an origin. If anything, Nintendo took the oocca backstory and expanded on the idea of people from the sky for Skyward Sword. Then Nintendo deliberately put the double clawshots in SS(gave them an origin) made Link have chain mail armor, put pumpkins in the game and re used tear vessel. They very clearly wanted to connect it to TP, even designed the bow to look similar and left the Triforce out in the open at the end of the game just like TP backstory.
@@nworder4life yeah makes sense to me. Especially releasing in the same console gen technically, makes sense SS dev likely started very quickly after TP/Crossbow and they had some connections in mind. Especially if they were thinking of making Skyward the origin out the gate.
Twilight princess will always be my favourite Zelda game. Love to see people still talking about it
A twilight release of a theory video, you’re too good to us!
What I think happened was when oot Link came back from Termina he didn't like how no one recognized him as a hero so he went around Hyrule doing heroic deeds based on his knowledge of the future. Overtime people would begin to recognize him as a hero which would lead to him being gifted the armor he wears as Hero's Shade. Also I think oot Link and ss Link are related and oot Link finds out about this at some point so models a tunic in memory of his ancestor because remember the 7 hidden skills are part of their bloodline and ss Link did use the ending blow on Demise so he probably passed it down.
That's an interesting idea, it would explain why he's able to pass things on to TP Link too since this means that OoT Link gained a certain level of enlightenment, allowing him to communicate with past and future Links 🤔
@@homerman76 I feel like it's due to the spirit of the hero that the Links can communicate with each other. At the end of Skyward Sword Demise warns Link that his hatred will haunt Link and Zelda for eternity because of this Link went on to train his children in order for them to combat the evil until he died but his vigor lived on becoming the Hero's Spirit which possesses different Links and gives them strength and allows some communication. This is why the Hero's Shade brings TP Link in a ghost realm they're inside the Hero's spirit.
@@homerman76 I think it is more likely that at some point OoT link went back to the temple of time and was able to communicate with Fi who still resided in the master sword to learn the skills.
@@cosmicx9628That's a fascinating point of view.
Link from Skyward Sword is most likely the Ancient Hero mentioned. The tunic is the same, the Hero's Bow is kept safe by the Gorons, the one race that was on the surface at that time and still is, and Renado could be connected to the Sheikah and the notable one from that time is Impa who would've passed the story down to her people
I remember coming across a theory suggesting that Colin might actually be the Wind Waker Link in a parallel timeline. Neither of them are directly descended from the Hero’s bloodline, yet both demonstrate remarkable courage and share the common trait of having a younger sister.
I love that theory that’s a fun idea
Oh, now that's an interesting idea, though the only issue is that Colin isn't a Hylian, much like most of those in Ordon village 🤔
The reason he was never able to share his skills was because he wasn't recognized as the Hero of Time in his own timeline; thus, "the Hero's Shade", a "shade" or "shadow" of what he used to be. Also, it could be likely that Hero of Time Link died before his own children were old enough to teach his skills to, so they never learned them. This is how I always saw it, anyway.
It seems kinda obvious to me that the reason the Hero couldn't pass on hos skills to the next generation because there was no evil and therefore no need for it.
It can be both, the Hero's Shade IS the Hero of time, as stated in the Hyrule Historia. The Hero of Legend however, is the the Hero of the Sky. They aren't mutually exclusive.
This, games don't have to just refer to one Link 🤔
Oohhh i like this! Something i really like with every new installation of zelda games is when we retroactively get answers to questions i didn't know we had. But it's also not the kinds of things that are ever stated outright, so the community has to really dig to find these explanations.
I think you make a really valid point about the fact that 100 or so years ago not being nearly long enough for the Hero of Time to be regarded as "Ancient," and with Skyward Sword being the next 3D Zelda game Nintendo made, it's very likely that they drew inspiration from Twilight Princess when coming up with the lore it establishes, especially with the double clawshot being an item you receive (it's just such a specific item that both Links receive.) I do think others are right that he wasn't entirely forgotten since the Royal family seem to have noted him and we know he went on to have kids so his life probably wasn't so bad after Majora's Mask 🤔
Man i missed videos like this. I just recently finished reading the twilight princess manga and this game has become even more rooted into my soul than it already was before. God i love twilight princess.
I personally think Colin looking similar to young Link Is intentional.. Like an Easter egg.
I always thought of it as a low key hint at the "next Link". Colin grows up trained by Link and Rusl, he dons Link's clothes out of respect for the man who taught him what true courage meant, and he has his own heroic adventure. We see at the end of TP Colin is actually wielding a sword and shield looking like a 1:1 copy of young Link, so obviously the next generation was inspired. I always wished we got a "bait and switch" Zelda game where we Thought we were playing as Link, but it turns out that we are just playing as an older Colin and the message of the game is about how even non-Triforce wielders can have courage and save the world.
@@WeeG-bwc77 I like that Idea.. It would make perfect sense, even though it's not the sequel we'd want for TP. It'd still make for a great narrative.
It’s funny that you’re recently playing twilight princess same here. I got it on the Wii I just want to relive the nostalgia again it’s been nearly 8 years since I last played it man doing all the puzzles again feels just the same like the last time I played it😂, but it also puts me in a heavy emotional state that I don’t feel the same for the newer generation Zelda games as I do for the previous ones I love, tears the kingdom and breath of the wild, but for some reason, the older Zelda games just put me in a better place in my heart than those two even though I put over thousand hours of gameplay, it just doesn’t hit the same
Thank goodness for malon, with out her link surly would have had no light left in his heart, but because she befriended him and they became family, had children who then was able to survive to become a hero link could shape and bring him back his honor and joy.
Great Video! I like to think that after Majora's Mask, he served as a knight in the hyrulean army, and then started a family with Malon (as we know that TP Link is the direct descendent of the Hero of Time), and set up Ordon Village with her, but in times of peace after the war, his children didn’t want to become warriors and he didn’t want to force them to go through what he did when it wasnt needed in their time. I think he died of old age, with still the lingering regert of no one knowing his true accomplishments and his skills as a warrior being no longer necessary in this time, as his true enemy, "the cruel flow of time", would win in the end. He would be buried where he grew up, in the Kokiri forest by the sacred tree (a tombstone in TP hyrule castle hints at that), buried not in his green tunic that he saved the world twice in, but instead his knightly armor, as everyone (expect the royal family persumably) would not remember him as the Hero of Time, but simply as a solider who fought in battle. He would linger as a restless spirit until he could pass down his techniques to his descendent, where he would finally be at peace and pass on, much like many of the spirits/people link healed in Majoras Mask. Truly a Tragic Story, with a small happy end.
Love you bandy 💕
Thank you so so much!
By far my favorite theory of this. New, fresh take to an incredibly old topic. Thank you for this.
Man, the Hero of Time is such a boss that not even Death could take him in the end. Hell, with all the ... (Fan Games) Even he gets the majority of him. Most beloved hero of the franchise.
I actually cried. I mean, all of the Links suffered and sacrificed so much. They all need hugs
Aw man toughen up 🤣 jk jk
@LoudStryfe Men can cry too
Theory makes sense. I feel like it's still possibly the hero of time post termina. when he returned to hyrule like he returned to be a hero in a different light as a high ranking knight. Since he would've developed skills in the terminal travels and on the path back while still searching for navi. We never really get a resolution to that quest. I think there just more to it we've haven't seen to OOTs returned kid link
It's been a while since a Zelda theory appealed to me. Thanks it was a real good one ^^
you dont even need to go through outside sources to know the shade is OOT link. its storytelling, someone made the choice to give the shade the details of the scabbard and having him be links (TP links) ancestor and have him know OOT and MM songs. if it was real life it would be debatable but here that is intentional. i feel like a lot of theory crafting channels completely forget that
Aaaah how good it feels when a Zelda game has lore, soul and goes beyond just being a big sandbox 😌
3:30
Y'know, every once in a while as I age I get a slap in the face to remind me I'm not a kid any more. I was a teenager when TP came out. I bought it with money I made at my own job. And when you said "over the last 20 years" I literally had to google the release date. I couldn't believe it. XD not quite, but friggin' close enough.
I think with how much TP is intended to be a spiritual successor to OoT, the "hero of legend" was probably *intended* to be the Hero of Time, but as you have pointed out, there are enough flaws in that narrative to really lend credence to the idea that they're referring to SS Link. Skyward Sword including design elements from Twilight Princess for the outfit, Bow, and clawshots are just icing on the cake
Now that's a solid theory.
There have been a lot of theories that have popped up in the last few years, but many of them just seem to be so flimsy and unlikely.
It's refreshing to hear a really well thought out one again.
I always thought this was something that was solved a long time ago, it just seemed like one of the clearest story points I'd seen in a zelda game. I loved the idea that an ancient link was there for the current hero, whether it was Hero of Time / Termina, or the Hero of Skies!
When you segwayed into Skyward Sword Link bring the ancient hero, it brought a HUGE SMILE to my face! Skyward Sword is tied with Twilight Princess as my favorite Zelda games of all time!
@_ABoyNamedBlue_ Both games are VERY CLOSELY tied together, too.
I so wish they'd bring back the Twili. They could have such a cool aesthetic design. Those patterns and colors looks great.
I find myself trapped in a loop of watching videos about the Hero's Shade
and expecting to learn something new. I wish they''d just give him his own game at this point.
Ok this really itches my brain in the perfect way.
Its really weird to say, but Hero's Shade is most likely my favourite Zelda character JUST because his lore is so deep and intricate.... And so tragic :')
AND DUD I LOVE LOVE the theory that the ancient Hero IS Skyward Sword Link,,, like I had an itch something was connecting between the two when I first played SS. Maybe it was just the artstyle but I had a thought for so long that they look so much alike, so I so very much support that theory of the Ancient hero BEING SS Link, AAA!!!
Link was cursed to not sleep until he prepared the future, probably a self-inflicted one (think Majora). Many argue that using the Song of Healing to first summon him is the evidence for that. There's also the unmistakable singing voice of Malon heard at night in the fields. Which in my opinion, is just Malon's spirit remaining fixed to the world in a similar way to Link's. Malon stays out of love for her husband, waiting for the Shade to fulfill his mission so they can ascend together... What still has to be answered though, is how he lost his eye.
The Hero's Shade is not the lingering soul of the Hero of Time, but a manifestation of his regret. The Hero of Twilight is the reincarnation of the Hero of Time. In a sense he is reconnecting with himself and just requiring memories of his past life battle experiences. The Hero's Shade is like an echo left behind after the Hero of Times death, perhaps his emotions of regret were so strong it manifested into the ghost who trained Link in Twilight Princess. The Hero of Time is probably the Hero of Twilights great grandfather, so there is the blood connection and the reincarnation process. All Links in the Child Timeline are one and the same soul, from Skyward Sword to Twilight Princess. Just as Princess Zelda is the reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia, both are reincarnated Time and again when a great evil appears.
12 am upload? Hell yea!
I actually love this theory it makes a ton of sense as this is the only link who interacts with the Ooccoo an ancient race from the very beginning of the timeline likely before Ss link. Idk what this actually means but it shows that this line has a major connection to the Ss era aside from just his gear
I always find it funny when people talk about link being left or right handed regarding this game since TP famously inverted the map and controls from GC to the Wii version so the sword would be on the right like the wiimote
I still like the theory that the Hero's Shade died during a war between Hyrule and Gerudo after the events of Majora's Mask.
The idea that Ganondorf would be imprisoned immediately after a strange fairy boy breaks into the castle and tells the princess that he's evil is a little too unbelievable to me.
It could have forced Ganondorf into "plan B" prematurely, so that could work.
It makes sense, if said war went on for a decade or so, it'd explain why the sages are different and why it took so long for Ganondorf and Zant to break out of the Twilight Realm. It'd also explain why the Gerudo desert is devoid of anything relating to the Gerudo and contains the Arbiter's grounds, it's where all of those that chose to side with Ganondorf would have been detained after the war (many of which were likely monsters, like how there's the idea that Iron Knuckles are transformed Gerudo, and why Stallord is surrounded by a lot of dead soldiers since it was likely something Ganondorf conjured during the war.)
Tbf Link did have the mark of the Triforce on his hand when he spoke to Zelda at the very end of OoT. That itself would have been proof enough for the king to at least hear him out, if not outright believe him.
@erikledune9292 I've never considered that before.
Yeah, even with as bad of a track record the Kings of Hyrule have at making decisions, that would make sense.
@@DemonicAdj I think that's what led to Majora's Mask. Princess Zelda gave him the Ocarina of Time before Link left Hyrule, and I'd be surprised if he didn't at least help the Gorons and Zora before he left.
No Ruby, no Sapphire, no Emerald, no Ocarina. No passage to the Sacred Land.
Of course, they also had no way of knowing that Ganondorf already had a third of the Triforce, except via educated guess.
I think the war was plan B, because plan A was opening the Doors of Time.
Happy new year!!!! Wishing you all the best, great health, love, success and happiness! Thanks for the video
I think the ancient hero they’re referring to is Skyward Sword Link. Another reason to replay SS.
I like the idea that he’s a hero we haven’t seen yet. With the fact that LoZ games jump around the timeline it makes potential theories out of future games
I’ll be Frank, everything you talk about here was information I always felt was… pretty blatantly obvious to the point of being common knowledge. As close to “confirmed” as interlinking Zelda theories get. If there are people who disagree with the hero of Legend being SS Link, the Hero’s Shade being OoT Link, or the hero of legend being different from the Shade, I’ve never encountered them before, and that’s wild.
The games present things rather straight forward. None of Link's heirs cared to learn his sword technique in a peaceful time to prepare for the next threat. So Link just ... stuck around, waiting till one of them was.
Just when I thought the hero of time's story couldn't be any more depressing you come out with this theory!
This makes a lot of sense. The Ancient Hero was not known to us yet until 2011 in 2006. But now Aonuma's "Oh, I see," comment about TP HD is making even more sense since they made a trilogy of SS, BotW, and TotK.
Hero of Time Link married Malon and TP Link is their great great grandchild, that's always been my own canon.
Also, the ruins in the lost woods, I just always assumed they were the ruins of the Forest Temple from OOT, just destroyed after a great battle/over the years.
I believe the Hero of Time still did some minor scale heroic things in the Child Timeline, but legends fade
The Hero's Shade is definitely the Hero of Time. I didn't like the idea back when it was just a fan theory but it's grown on me since. The idea of what happened to him after returning to his own time only for his deeds to be forgotten, known only to him and Zelda, then to become a decorated knight of Hyrule but without a successor... Bittersweet and a good way to give him character without overdoing it.
Another point that speaks for this theory is that e.g. the ending blow (or the shield one) is a technique used by the ss Link.
Additionally both Links end their endboss with the ending blow
Bro back when I was young I got Zelda The WindWaker free for the gamecube. And it was one of the greatest games I ever played. I still remember literally every single thing about it even tho it’s been like 15 years and I have bad memory. I didn’t know anything about Zelda before or After so if there is a better Zelda game PLEASE recommend it to me. I would 100% play it.
Hey Bandit: You're really becoming kinda an *UNPREDICTABLE* and I will just never know *WHERE* or even *WHEN* you're going to show up.... Do you want to know something though? I actually enjoy this and I look forward to seeing what else you got cooking. {Bows down with an immense smile} *"All hail our Lord, Bandit!!!"* ~ JonseyG 👲💖🎉
I've often argued that the Hero of Time Link was remembered as a hero, but that it just wasn't enough for his traumatized mind. He was trying to live up to his own imagined greatness, rather than the needs of the people. That said, the connections to the Hero of the Skies seems solid.
I know none of this was thought of when TP came out because SW hadn't been written or released yet, but I like this theory because it fits. 10/10 headcannon
The idea of past fantasy heroes being teachers to the heroes of today has always fascinated me :)
I swear that spinning platform on the cucco house made me rage more than anything else in this series. yes, what an amazing game
I hereby request that all future Zelda comics where all the Links come together and perform shenanigans, OoT Link is just the Hero’s shade and not the child nor adult form
Literally playing TP right now and was thinking exactly this, how perfect.
Honestly, it's always been my favourite zelda game. The story, music, and art style all live rent-free in my mind.
Currently playing through the game again myself and was wanting some videos to go with it. Great timing
Great vid Bandit! As always 😁
I love your theory videos, you have a unique take on a lot of things Im really enjoying ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
plot twist, hero's shade its not link from Oot, it's a decendant, remember that green skin gerudos live for centuries ? ganondorf execution happened right before Oot link spilled the beans, 100ish years passed, hero's shade is a decendant from link not him, just as every zelda is a reincarnation of hylia, every descendant of the hero is gonna be a golden wolf, except TP link, why ? because his wolf is grey, not golden, TP link is indeed a chosen hero, but his case is similar to WW link, he's not a decendant, he just happen to be a boy with enough courage to become the new hero of hyrule, someone with a similar heroic soul
hero's shade never calls out that TP link is his descendant, he just tells him "i never passed down my skills to my family, so now i pass them to you"
Was the Hero's Shade said to be a Hero for Hyrule or that he was a Hyrule from Hyrule. If his regret is never being remembered as a Hero then this fits the Hero of Time perfectly. He wouldn't be remembered for his actions in the adult timeline and if he proved himself a Hero in another land, Termina, then he wouldn't be remembered as a Hero in Hyrule. The Hero of Time stopped Ganondorf in the adult timeline and saved the land of Termina, so he would have had every right to the title of Hero, but to the people of Hyrule in the child timeline he would have been just a kid spinning a tale.
Love this theory! I've been replaying Twilight Princess and loving its beautiful story, world and high fantasy aesthetic all over again.
My headcanon is that he had somehow travelled to the Twilight Realm.
He is able to turn into a wolf and knew a descendant would be able to since he is placed the Howling Stones around Hyrule.
If anything, he is probably the one that started the Twili prophecy of the Sacred Beast saving them. Just shows that him being able to transform means he came in contact with Twilight at some point. Couldve explored the Lost Woods and found some weird stuff lol.
You can argue that he subdued Ganondorf during the war since he basically set up a lot if in case his descendant came into contact with Twilight and turned into a wolf.
I like this theory. I agree that the ancient hero was probably Skyward Link.
I think Ghost Link could be either OG Adult Link *or* Kid Link grown up, because spirits from the beyond may not necessarily be bound into one time stream.
I really like this theory and fits the twilight theme perfectly imo
Bandit!!! Good to have you on the feed, good sir!
I agree with your sentiment about the Hero's Shade. He IS child Link from Majora's Mask, all grown up and half stalfos, (because "everyone without a fairy gets lost and turned into stalfos. Everybody. Stalfos.")
As far as the legendary hero referenced in this game, we don't know enough information. There is one hero that we don't know enough about that might fit the bill. But he comes with his own mysteries.
There's a small mention of a hero at the beginning of Minish Cap. As far as I know, this is the only time he is mentioned, unless they are talking about Twilight Princess's legendary hero.
The Hero of Men. Using the Picori Blade and the Light Force, singlehandedly won The War of the Bound Chest, driving all the monsters and demons attacking Hyrule into a magic chest. Sealing away The Evil Army up until the events of Minish Cap.
Now, just because the shoe fits doesn't mean we should wear it. But I would say events that fall in between Skyward Sword and Minish Cap would be considered, "ancient."
What do you think, Bandit?
@chubbsthestuntmonkey7262 There's nothing to suggest the hero of men was the ancient hero, but we have a bunch of evidence connecting the ancient hero to SS Link.
@@nworder4life List your evidence.
About the hero's bow, I think it's possible oot link got it somehow off screen and gave it to the gorons. Given when link got set back, Barinade and King dodongo had to be dealt with. Given the relationship link forges with the gorons, and how they have that bow, its possible he went onto save them again.
The real answer is that they didn't consider which hero of legend at all while developing the game, but that's not an in-universe answer. I was firmly in the "it's the hero of time" camp until now, but you made a solid argument that it makes more sense to be the Skyward Hero.
While not a theory per say I like to believe after (AT)Zelda sent the Hero in Time back in time she had front row seats to the Triforce of Courage exploading in her face.
fun theory idea, The TotK timeline proved itself to be in the windwaker timeline. The sky islands are the floating islands before the water drains away, since gods were involved in the flood, and the creations of the islands, they stay high in the sky. The people of Wind waker don't have connection to Zelda, Hyrule or anything else since that's been lost to their time. Sonia is more similar to Tetra than any other zelda character and would explain her darker skin tone and not having the zelda name despite having hylia's powers. And finally the King of Red Lions wished away all of the evils of the past, and as such the ganondorf of TotK is a new Ganondorf, the reincarnation of the previous one who finally died in Wind waker. Oh and the other imprisoning war was in a different timeline, and as such can happen in this one as well.
in a similar side note, I think the Zonai were the Twili interlopers, who when the King wished away hyrule, unofficially unbanished them from the twilight realm. And like how hylians change when they enter the twilight realm, the Zonai turned into the Twili when they were forced into the twilight realm. but that's a different theory.
I like to think that the Hero of Time saved Hyrule again years later in the child timeline, which is where he gained the armor and became known as a Hero. As for the tunic, I interpret the Light Spirit's words as it being metaphorically the same, but the actually tunic itself was personally made for the Hero of Twilight by the light spirits.
Adding and subtracting zeroes from the timeline works wonders for things making sense in the worlds
This is brilliant, and it clears up a lot of questions for me
Maybe the hero of legend they speak of isn't the hero's shade, but skyward sword link? Or one of the links after skyward sword, but before oot.
Something to add to this. The hero of time of the child timeliness WAS a hero. A hero of termina. And how he resembles the king of ikana in his shade form. Perhaps his armor set and such is that of the ikana region
Imagine a Zelda Game where you have to lay your equipment to rest in various temples after your journey is done
The ancient hero references were always intended to reference the founder of their bloodline, hense 'ancient hero.'
What if the people still consider Link’s feats from the timeline that “never happened?” They may seem fantastical, but it’s likely that the now surviving sages backed up the child Link’s claims: not only of Ganondorf’s wrongdoings, but of his heroic actions in the other timeline, as well.
Think about it! If his heroic actions weren’t taken seriously, Ganondorf’s supposed villainy that hadn’t canonically happened yet simply WOULDN’T have been considered, and he wouldn’t have been charged for crimes that he hadn’t yet committed.
Plus, we must also consider that from here, in the new timeline, the Hero of Time goes on to be a Hyrule soldier of sorts and dies a valiant death: meaning that he’s got quite a number of legends to pull from across time and space, but that actually did happen.
Adventures from the past and futures that never were, adventures into the depths of Termina, trials against enemies as an armored soldier to his valiant end…it’s no different than Arthurian tales which we contest to this day.
I think many of the people still came to know of Link’s epic tales as Adult Link. It was a future the people were spared from, but the stories were passed on as a cautionary tale to never repeat the same mistakes. To always avoid another Ganondorf.
When you mentioned that thing about 'hammering the hero of legend', you should've said something about the megaton hammer, as a related item link used in oot, AND as a pun. 2 birds, 1 stone.
Hey Bandit, thanks for the video!
I’ve missed classic Zelda videos like this so much.
The Ancient Hero and the Hero of Legends are likely 1 or more prior Links, 1 of which may have been the first.
The Zelda… theory vids… I missed these so much! These were my childhood man! LETS GO!
I don’t think ocarina of time link’s life was as bad as we make it out to be sure he was a ghost for a couple decades or something, but considering that twilight princess link is the hero of time’s descendant means he settled down and found love and started a family allowing him to enjoy the period of peace that he helped to create. And plus teaching his successor gave him the fulfilment that he needed as he knew his legacy would live on through twilight princess link and that Hyrule’s safety was left in capable hands. If you read through this essay thank you take free apple juice and cake as a reward 🎂 🧃
Damn, that was a good one. I really enjoyed this one. Here's a thought. Is it confirmed how Ganandorf was captured? Is it possible he formed an uprising that Link could have stopped when he was a bit older helping to imprison him causing him to become a hero of a different title in the child timeline? Just a thought.
Love this. Watched your previous video way back and still agree with you! Keep up the awesome content
I’ve been saying this ever since skyward sword came out. It’s nice to see someone else finally believes this.
Honestly it could be both in some of these contexts that you mentioned, but I’m guessing specifically the Hero of Shade is still OOT link. Main reason? The hidden skills. While 2 -5 don’t resemble anything OOT link can do in his game. 1,6 and the final skill are things that ONLY OOT link has been known to do in that part of the timeline and before.
But that’s just me tbh
All I know for sure is Link really loves to jam the whole entire master sword in the base of ganondorfs skull.