Ocarina Of Time Remake's Adult Link References Twilight Princess

Adult Link's Ocarina Of Time Remake Design References Hero's Shade Published Sep 13, 2026, 12:18 PM EDT George is the Lead News Editor for TheGamer, and has been working in the industry since 2021 after graduating from the University of South Wales with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. He has also previously written for RPG Site, WhatCulture, and PlayStation Lifestyle. George is an expert on platformers, action games, and fighters, but tends to play as many releases as possible. This hands-on experience lets him dive into gaming communities and follow the latest trends. Some of the games George has extensively covered first-hand include Dead Rising, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Ninja Gaiden 4. Sign in to your TheGamer account Eagle-eyed Zelda fans have noticed that Adult Link’s updated design in the Ocarina of Time remake includes a detail that ties him closer to Hero’s Shade. As every Zelda fan knows, the series’ timeline is a bit of a mess. It’s always felt like Nintendo was pressured to tie all of the games together, resulting in a confusing branching universe that can send your head spinning. That being said, there is one standout of the whole timeline that most fans love - Hero’s Shade. Hero’s Shade (or Hero's Spirit) is a skeletal character from Twilight Princess who teaches that game’s Link some sword skills. The fact that he’s left-handed, knows multiple songs from Ocarina of Time, and, of course, has some of Link’s most iconic moves implied that he was actually Link from that game, something that was later confirmed in Hyrule Historia. Now, that reference has come full circle. Adult Link In Ocarina Of Time Remake Has A Nod To Hero’s Shade At Least, It Certainly Seems Like It Over on Twitter, jtsknight92 pointed out a very interesting detail about Adult Link’s updated design in the Ocarina of Time remake. As we know, Nintendo has added a lot more detail to character designs in the remake, which can most clearly be seen with both versions of Link and all the extra touches on his outfit. Perhaps the most interesting of these, though, is that the grass-like armour that Adult Link wears is clearly shaped like an owl, most likely after Kaepora Gaebora. Beyond being a cute upgrade from the original game, it more closely ties this Link to the Hero’s Shade from Twilight Princess, who notably has an owl design on his armour. I’d never noticed the owl design on the Hero’s Shade before, but it’s right in the middle of his chestplate. While there’s a chance that the link between those two is accidental and that Nintendo wanted a nod to Kaepora Gaebora more than anything else, it seems more likely that it’s rewarding anyone who knows the whole series. After all, Hyrule Historia did outright confirm that Hero’s Shade was the Hero of Time after years of speculation, so we know that it’s canon. And now, it seems even Nintendo is highlighting it.