Skyward Sword had an interesting take on the beloved hero in green. This iteration of Link is a teenage student in a knight academy, well-known for taming a very rare bird mount, a Crimson Loftwing. Aside from his loftwing, this Link is nothing spectacular. He oversleeps and is often chided for not living up to his potential. He’s also Zelda’s best friend. Their dynamic is adorable and hints at the beginnings of a romantic relationship. When Zelda is captured by Ghirahim, Link rushes after her. In order to save his best friend, he faces every imaginable danger, slowly but surely growing stronger and wiser until he’s finally ready to save the one he loves. In some Zelda games, Link and Zelda barely interact at all and are virtually strangers pulled together by destiny. Skyward Sword puts great care into developing their relationship and bond before Zelda is taken.

Skyward Sword Link can be a punk and has some delightfully sassy dialogue options. I — of course — always choose them.

Here are the rest of the Skyward Sword bookmarks: