Hyrule Warriors

The fact that so many fans cannot possibly conceive having a such a strong connection could not exist without it being sexually driven is frightfully sad.
Seriously, I can smell the fedoras from here.


Re: AoL - There's a lot in presuming a kiss given as a reward means anything but "thank you".
Re: Link's Awakening - Yeah, he called Marin 'Zelda' because she looked just like Zelda because she looked just like Zelda. How is that a sign of tension?

You just gave their names in the last two 'examples', so I'm not sure why you think either of those demonstrated a deeper physical attraction.

Yes, Link saves Zelda a lot, but his motivation for doing so is generally more significant than "get the girl". In fact, AoL and Phantom Hourglass were the only times Zelda is the actual endgame. In the latter, this is because he actually spent an entire game before and sometime sense actually being around her. I mean, if one of my only friends in the world were kidnapped by a nightmare boat, I would like to think I'd go to save her.
In AoL, Zelda is someone who he's never met before and he only tries to save her because some old lady tells him it's his destiny or whatever.

TL;DR version: Link could gender swap in most games without much awkwardness or possible controversy. Yes, there would be some minute same-sex flirting, but there's nothing to actually be called "romance" in the series (at least none involving Link).

First of all, no one said anything about the fact that the only reason Link cooperated with Zelda at all was to bone her. No one even implied that. The only thing anyone stated were that they were friends or possibly a little bit more.

Secondly, the fact that the curtains close in The Adventure of Link implies it means a bit more than a simple "thank you." It implies the traditional tale of a hero saving a princess and the princess offering herself to the hero. That was the original intention by the creators of the game.

With the Link's Awakening bit, Marin didn't look like Zelda. Not at all. What is implied in that instance is the fact that Link is thinking of her from his previous journeys (A Link to the Past and the Oracle of Seasons/Ages games).

If you had played The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks, the name pairing should be enough. There was so much between Link and Tetra and Link and Phantom Zelda that a strong bond is obvious.

Again, no one stated that they had to bone each other the instant the game went to the credits screen or that it was Link's only goal. It just means that the possibilities are there that they were maybe a little more than friends due to the result of their journeys or childhood connections.