With Link's Crossbow Training hitting store shelves this month, we've got Link on the brain lately at IGN Stars. We sure do love us some Link here, you see, so a stroll down memory lane seems in order. The star of the Legend of Zelda series has certainly seen a variety of incarnations over the years, and IGN Stars has grouped them all together for your reading and viewing pleasure. Read on then for a flashback to some of the major looks the character has had since his debut some 20 years ago. And then send this link to your friends! (Get it!?)

Circa 1986-1987Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe title that introduced us to the one and only Link, The Legend of Zelda's old-school graphics certainly didn't leave much room for intricate character design. As a result, our boy from Hyrule is mostly a teensy, bitmappy chunk of color here, though what would become his traditional hues of green and brown are clearly in evidence. Still, our best shot of Link from this era was actually from the game's promotional materials, where he struck an almost girlish appearance.Circa 1987-1988Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment SystemAs he would prove wont to do during his various incarnations, Link underwent some changes in his second adventure -- in concept if not much in design. The new game switched between a 3/4 top view of the action and a side-scroller view, though Link himself is still looking relatively primitive here. Again, the illustrated version of him from the game's manual is much more satisfying -- he even looks more manly this time out, or at least elven-manly.Circa 1989Nintendo's ZL-65 Game & WatchThe first handheld Zelda game offers up a tiny little LCD Link, of course, but his characterized representation on the device's cover is interesting for a more rotund and squat hero of Hyrule than we had previously seen. Another mini version of Link's adventures could be found in the Zelda Game Watch of this era, which was not to be confused with the Game & Watch.