Project #2 - Case Study 1

My first case study was, naturally, a Legend of Zelda installment.

For those who haven't played the game, Link actually has a sibling in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker - a younger sister in fact.
Although she is just a supporting character really, she plays a significant role in that she essentially prompts Link into beginning in his journey, not through any fault of her own of course. 

 

Aryll

 *Spoiler* Aryll is a blonde, pointy eared girl who just happens to look like someone that a certain antagonist is on the prowl for. So, unsurprisingly, she ends up getting kidnapped. Even more predictably, Link goes chasing after her, drawing him into the adventure that follows. Of course he'd go to save her, she is his sister after all, family. Family is a subject almost everyone can relate to, and as much as siblings argue, few people would leave their brother or sister to their fate. 

In Wind Waker, I would see very little reason, other than Aryll being taken, for Link to feel obligated to leave his peaceful little island. In this regard Aryll is a significant character in the entire game space. Link meets pirates and infiltrates a fortress in search of her, things he likely wouldn't have done otherwise. Not knowing where she is helps the player to try and understand the main character here as well, putting us in the shoes of someone who is trying to save a family member.
Of course, most of us wouldn't go sailing across oceans. 

What is important to notice is that Aryll isn't taken for no good reason. She is tied in with the entire game space and its story; the fact that she looks similar to our favourite blonde-haired, pointy eared princess who Ganondorf seeks is the reason behind her being snatched away by a giant bird. Ganondorf clearly doesn't know where Zelda is, and to him any girl of Aryll's ilk could be the Princess. Of course, this development comes later on. Aryll is a motivator, a reason for Link to have to traverse a pretty barren ocean. 

In the case of Wind Waker, a sibling to the main character is pretty paramount in driving the story - at least until the larger secrets begin to unfold. Aryll isn't just some side character who is seen once in the game and then forgotten. She also doesn't take away from the game experience - she is a part of it. As cliche as having to rescue a family member might seem, it's a situation that the large majority of people can relate to.