Skyward Sword’s Link is Still Not a Lefty

Bringing The Legend of Zelda into the realm of the Wii has no doubt been a bit of a challenge for Nintendo’s developers. And part of that challenge is in the fact that, for twenty years, series protagonist Link had always been depicted as a left-handed individual. Yet, with most Wii users being right-handed, a decision had to be made to address the awkwardness of many players controlling Link’s left with their right.

For The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which was originally developed as a GameCube title, they made the decision to simply flip things. However, they did more than simply flip Link; they flipped the world with him.

This drew some ire from some fans, but may have been considered a slightly-forgivable offense, given the game’s origins. Surely a new Zelda, built from the ground up for the Wii, would surely allow southpaws the choice of a control scheme which is not only more accurate to the character’s history, but convenient for them, right? After all, one can wield the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in whichever hand they choose.

Right?

Well, as it turns out, that may not be the case. While trying the game out at E3 last week, the Wild Gunmen brought the question before Nintendo Representative Julie Gagnon, and learned…

Left-handed controls are not currently planned. So, there’s no option to have a left-handed Link. This could mean a bit of getting used to for left-handed players, as your hand is controlling the opposite arm on Link, but given the Wii-motes design, button placement won’t be a problem.

This is indeed unfortunate for the seven to ten-percent of the population who primarily use their left hands. With past controllers, even Twilight Princess‘s “waggle” to some degree, the problem was likely more easily overcome. But with 1:1 control, traveling through Hyrule could be a much more difficult ordeal.

With any luck, Nintendo may yet change their mind about not featuring a left-handed Link in the newest game. Perhaps if those concerned made enough noise, there will still be enough time before the game’s release to implement it.

And maybe they can do it without reversing the entire world this time, too.

Source: Wild Gunmen (via GoNintendo)

Image: Lilformers

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  • http://www.ripten.com/author/Sam%20Naylor/ Sam Naylor

    I don’t understand why this is as big a problem as it is. Lefties don’t have trouble with normal controllers, and I doubt swinging Link’s sword is going to be the same as a olympic-level fencing match. Precision just won’t be needed.

    • Left Out Leftie

      Precision IS needed with Wii Motion plus, and also, I had to flip the controllers upside down quite often. I can play every majora’s mask song upside down…

    • Richardkurowski2001

      that being said sam, then nintendo shoulda had your views  and said fuck you to rightys and not leftys unfortionatly thats not the case they dissagree with you, they thought adjusting was just as hard as we leftys know it is, fan wise, and physically, so essentually your in the wrong sam

  • Right-handed Zelda fan

    I am a right-handed individual, but the idea of a right-handed Link really dissapoints me. It seems to be a shallow move by Nintendo to capitalize on a larger portion of the gaming market. It’s the principle of the thing: it looks like they don’t care if they offend a few ‘lefties’ as long as the fancy new controls appeal to a higher percentage of potential customers. Very shallow, and if they think they can just ‘change’ Link then it’s especially disrespectful to Zelda fans everywhere, right-handed or southpaw.

    • Angry Ambidextrous

      I agree wit Right-Handed Zelda fan! I’m ambidextrous though I favor my left. I’ll still be able to play all right, but Link was my left-handed hero and it bothers me that he’s being changed just to fit a bottom-line!

      • Terry

        I agree! I’m ambidextrous as well and I also favor my left over my right. Every time I see Link wielding the Master Sword in his Right hand, I just get all bothered over it. Growing up, I never saw many left handed people in my household or my school or whatever, I was even discouraged by my relatives to stop writing with my left. When I realized that Link was left-handed I felt like “Wow! One of my childhood heroes and favorite video game characters is lefty like I am!” But once I heard about this whole thing where Nintendo doesn’t wanna flip the game or have an option for us left handed players I was just disappointed. :/ If I have to play it right-handed, I guess I’ll just have to adjust. But really, Nintendo should take into consideration how not all players are going to be right-handed.

  • lefty

    why cant nintendo make link a lefty for lefty gamers and vice versa?

  • sims

    Sam, it doesn’t work that way. Many lefties have simply adapted to playing that way. That doesn’t mean that, given the choice, they still aren’t superior with their left. Things like clutching a Wiimote feels comfortable in a lefties hand. I hold the Wiimote like a retard when I try using my right hand. You have the whole world catered to your right handed needs – I don’t expect you to understand.

    That said, I am extremly dissapointed. It’s basically like Nintendo just gave all lefties a huge collective “Fuck You” to all lefties. What’s really insulting is their reasoning. Since right handers felt it akward, they decided to swap the character itself? So…how would left handers feel? Just adjust? In this day and age in gaming, they have no excuse for not having multiple control options. None. The 360 understood this. The PS3 understood this. Why is Nintendo stuck in the times? Especially since Nintendo emphasizes a new, completley different control scheme.

    • AfroSnackey

      Oh mai god, somebody who understands! they did it in wii sports, why not Skyward sword?

  • http://ebay Mike

    I don’t see why you guys are so upset. I can understand why, but don’t see why you’re so worked up for, chill down its just a game.

    Also, don’t forget Link is reincarnated so each Link is different, therefore their height, age, foot size will not be the same (rare). As he’s reincarnated the new host will have either left or right hand. Plus, the majority of the population are right-handed therefore it’s beneficial to create a attack system with the right hand instead of the left. Although, i do think they should allow you to change which hand you prefer to hold your sword depending on what hand you use.

    • sims

      Shut up. It is was “just a game, no big deal”, then what the hell are you here for? Nobody is saying that this decision is ruining their lives, for Chrissakes, just that they are dissapointed.

      It’s only benificial if it benifits everyone. Since your needs are catered, who the hell gives a crap about your opinion?

    • Richardkurowski2001

      uuum if he was left handed then all rightys coulda “dealt” with it, all in all its you righties saying shit like that, that proves skyward sword woulda been more succesful if link was left, as a lefty and fan of zelda i hate this game, but if you think the adjustment is nothing, then why did they change link…obviously it is a deal to you righties or none of this woulda happened

  • Cococrash11

    They could just use a Gamecube Controller for right hand. No left handed option that frickin blows.

    • Kackarot_dbz

      No they cant.  The ONLY controller setup that will play this game is wii remote with nunchuck.  Period.

  • thatonekid

    im left handed and i always have been. seeing link left handed in the past games have always made me happy. Seeing him right handed just doesnt feel right. being left handed makes him unique. i think the best thing to do here is to make a right or left handed option. if not then KEEP HIM LEFT HANDED and use a gamecube controller for right handed people. im fine with him being right handed in the art and trailer but i really really hope theres a left handed option. if not, im still gona buy the game but ill always be 1% dissapointed because they changed link. him being right handed is like having him talk. or RIGHT HANDED PEOPLE NEED TO ADJUST THIS TIME! WE LEFTYS HAVE ALWAYS ADJUSTED NOW ITS RIGHTYS TURN TO ADJUST!!!!!! THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL! personally i am offended by nintendos desicion and i hope they change their mind.

    • SomeAsianNerdChick

      Shit, son. I’m right-handed and I think Link should be a lefty.

  • Zelda-Fan

    I’M LEFT AND I AGREE WITH ALL THE LEFT HANDED PEOPLE!!!!
    LINK LOOKS MUCH BETTER WITH SWORD IN LEFT HAND NOT RIGHT >:U

  • Lexi

    It’s kind Of annoying that there are so few left handed protagonists to begin with and now we might aswell count Link out for any future games that have a motion sensitive platform. But that’s just from a fan point of view. It’s also going to be difficult for left handed adjustment. Twilight princess wasn’t to terrible, because Link was right handed but as I watched my left handed brother play, he simply continued useing the controller as a lefty. With one-to-one it won’t be like that, since the screen will now correspond to the players limbs in real life. If Nintendo isn’t willing to make Link left by defaut, then at least they should make a lefty option, the wii is capable of doing so, as has been shown in wii sports. I’m not sure the difference, but it seems to be plausible, and I wish Nintendo would make the attempt.

  • Yianni

    :(
    i sea4rched the internet,and enough fans have expressed dissapointment
    we need a revolt!
    Link has been iconised and recognised as l;eft-handed!
    hes officially left handed!
    so its really wrong! ok?
    its for a stupid reason,and for Nintendo to maKE some money

  • yowassap

    they’re becoming racist to left-handed people like me link’s like my Idol coz he’s the only left handed game hero I know

  • yowassap

    they’re becoming racist to left-handed people like me link’s like my Idol coz he’s the only left handed game hero I know

  • Kackarot_dbz

    So 10% of the entire population.  Probably 2% of all gamers.  Seriously people, it’s not a big deal.  You probably are pissed that cars are set up to be shifted in manuals with your right hand.  At least you can play it.  What about the “racism” or “bias” against the blind?  What about their gaming needs?

  • http://mistress-raewyn.deviantart.com Raewyn

    Sure, it’s not a big deal. But I’m sure all the left handed people can agree with me on this here, there are very few game characters who are left handed. But those few inspired us and made us feel.. kinda more special. We have grown to love our left handed hero and now that he is suddenly right handed it kinda feels like someone punched my gut and said deal with it.
    Sure, most of us will get used to the controls, for me it was disorienting trying to use my left hand in Twilight Princess so I had no choice but to use my right.. I know the controls will be much more sensitive in this game so I will have a lot more trouble dealing with the controls because my right hand is nowhere near as good as my left.. Yeah, we can “deal with it” but there is still some pain seeing all these changes to my childhood heroes.. I guess disappointment is part of being an adult.