Hyrule Warriors Legends: Female Link included in Nintendo 3DS title

Female Link Hyrule Warriors — The female Link seen in a trailer for Hyrule Warriors Legends. Nintendo

Nintendo has revealed that 3DS game Hyrule Warriors Legends will include a female version of The Legend of Zelda series' iconic protagonist Link as an additional playable character. The Koei Tecmo game is set for release in early 2016.

Hyrule Warriors Legends is a port of 2013 Wii U title Hyrule Legends, a spin-off off the Dynasty Warriors series utilising the characters and settings of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda adventuring franchise.

Earlier this year the female version of Link - called Linkle - was revealed in an art book (via Kotaku) for the original Hyrule Warriors. She was eventually cut from the game, but has been revived for the 3DS game. She dual-wields crossbows and shares some moves with Link.

Introducing Linkle, an original character coming to #HyruleWarriors: Legends on #3DS on 25/3/2016. #NintendoDirectEU pic.twitter.com/jDRF3pWZBT
— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) November 12, 2015

Linkle joins Tetra and King Daphnes from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Skull Kid from Majora's Mask as the new characters joining Hyrule Warriors for the 3DS version. The game's release date of 25 March 2016 has also been announced.

You can watch Linkle's introduction from the Nintendo Direct broadcast below...