The Greatest Zelda Cameos

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So, you thought that it was only Mario who was popular enough to warrant his moustachioed face appearing in games other than his own? Guess again. Link might not have popped up in nearly as many titles as his Italian stable mate but he's still got a good few cameo appearances under his belt. True, some of them are more a homage to the Zelda series as a whole and others (which we've chosen not to list here purely for their frivolity) are mere passing remarks, but rest assured it's entirely intentional when Link gets a mention in a videogame. And even we'll admit that we didn't know all of these when we first started digging into Link's murky past. Most we'd seen before but some made us laugh out loud in surprise. Hopefully they'll have the same effect on you. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised how many there are!

Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing (GC/DS)
The Animal Crossing games are crammed with Zelda references - from being able to own the Triforce and Master Sword to display in your house and random cupboards in your friends' houses being 'filled with rupees', to catching Hylian Loaches and buying shirts of other characters in the game.

Donkey Kong Country 3

Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES)
A touch obscure, this one. Go into any of the General Stores and talk to Bazaar the Bear about the castle. If you refuse to pay up for your purchase, Bazaar will tell you about a boy called Link who was also asking about the castle and complaining that the shells were 'the wrong shape'. Typical Link, eh?

Donkey Kong Country 2

Donkey Kong Country 2 (SNES)
Apparently Link's a bit good at collecting Hero Coins in Donkey Kong Country 2. Not as good as Yoshi, admittedly, but still not too shabby. He's third on Cranky Kong's list of Video Game Heroes, which means you only have to collect 20 coins and you're immediately better than him.

Tetris DS

Tetris DS (DS)
There's no hiding Link in this handheld update of the classic puzzle game. There's an entire game mode dedicated to the lad in green called Mission, where players have to complete certain tasks presented to them, much as Link does on his own adventures. But with less block rearranging.

F1 Race

F1 Race (Game Boy)
Make it to the end of Course 5 in Nintendo's rather average monochrome racing title and you'll be met at the finish line by a cluster of near-naked women, along with Link who's looking more than a little confused. Honestly, has he never seen a naked lady before? Apparently not.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (GBA)
Everyone's favourite pink blob, Kirby, takes on the attributes of anything he swallows. In this Game Boy Advance title, however, he only has to suck up a Sword-based enemy to get hold of the familiar hat and weapon.

WarioWare

WarioWare (GBA/Wii)
Link has popped up a couple of times during the popular WarioWare series. Players have had to guide a NES version of him into a cave during 9-Volt's series of games on the GBA, as well as steer a Wind Waker-styled Link riding a Deku Leaf to safety in Wario's recent Wii outing.

Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy (NES)
Cheeky jabs from the competition are nothing new, but Squaresoft clearly thought suggesting Link was dead in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy was a good idea. The grave's hidden in Elfland but it was removed for the US release. However, it can still be found in the PSP remake of the game.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA)
Here's a slightly more obscure reference for the fans only. One of the more powerful weapons hidden deep within Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is mysteriously called the Master Sword. We wonder if Link knows that it's missing?

Hamtaro: Ham Ham Heartbreak

Hamtaro: Ham Ham Heartbreak (GBA)
Okay, so there's a pretty good chance that you won't have played this one but hidden up on Sunny Peak is a mysterious altar. If you can put the three coloured gems in the front, you'll be able to pull out the legendary... spoon. Yes, spoon. We laughed too.

Picross NP Vol 5

Picross NP Vol.5 (SNES)
Mario's Super Picross might have just come out on the Virtual Console but there are tons more Picross games that only ever came out in Japan. One of them, NP Vol.5, had an entire category dedicated to Ocarina Of Time and featured pictures of characters such as Navi, Epona, Princess Rito and Darunia.

Kirby Super Star

Kirby Super Star (SNES)
Another Kirby game, another reference to the Zelda series. There's a pattern emerging, isn't there? There are many different Nintendo-themed items to be found in the Great Cave Offensive part of the game, with one of them being the Triforce. And yes, it's very valuable.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA)
Not surprisingly for a Nintendo adventure, there's a Zelda-themed item to be found here. Make enough drinks at the Starbeans Café and you'll earn the Great Force, an item that'll increase your power and the damage you take. Looks awfully familiar, doesn't it?

Soul Calibur II

Soul Calibur II (GameCube)
Not so much a homage as a direct appearance, sanctioned by Miyamoto himself. Namco's popular sword-and-shield slash 'em up was the first appearance of a more realistic Link. He's a bit of a cheat though. After all, no other characters get to use a bow, a boomerang and a bag full of bombs, do they?

Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros. (N64/GameCube/Wii)
Link's been a mainstay of the Super Smash Bros. line-up since the game first appeared on the N64, although he was joined by the likes of Princess Zelda (plus her tomboy alter-ego Shiek) and the evil Ganondorf in the GameCube sequel.

Super Mario Bros 3

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Remember those warp whistles that come in so handy for skipping to the later levels of Mario's adventure? They're actually a sly reference to the Recorder that Link finds in Legend Of Zelda. Not only is the tune it plays the same but so is the whirlwind that then appears to "send you to a far away land".

Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars

Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars (SNES)
In Rose Town Inn just before Mario heads off to the Forest Maze, he finds Link sound asleep - obviously, he's worn out from rescuing Zelda in Link To The Past. And even better, trying to wake him makes a familiar Zelda sound effect go off. Wonderful.

Tetris (NES)

Tetris (NES)
A minor appearance here for Link but one that would spookily foreshadow his abilities to play the ocarina later in life. By completing a B-type game at Level 9 or above, you'll get a screen packed with Nintendo characters... and look! Link's there in the bottom corner, playing the flute.

World Of Warcraft

World Of Warcraft (PC)
Players exploring Un'Goro Crater will meet a dwarf named Linken who has two quests to offer: It's Dangerous To Go Alone and It's A Secret To Everyone (quotes from Legend Of Zelda). Completing them nets you a sword, a boomerang and a photo of him with a dwarf girl who looks suspiciously like Zelda.

Donkey Konga

Donkey Konga (GameCube)
Both bongo-bashing Donkey Konga games feature tributes to the Zelda series, mainly in the form of tunes that have been taken straight from Legend Of Zelda, Link To The Past and Ocarina Of Time. What's more, the second DK game featured a slot machine element featuring the faces of Link, Tetra, Zelda, Ganondorf and even Tingle.

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