I've been in a pretty big Hyrule Warriors mood lately. Mostly for Age of Calamity, but in regards to the original, I want to go ahead and list an idea for a playable character not in the game from each game in the canonical Zelda timeline. Even the ones that were released after said original.
Going by order of release date:
Going by order of release date:
Zelda 1 - The Old Man. His weapon would be a pair of magical torches that float by his side.
Zelda 2 - If we're talking strictly within the realm of the original, I would say a 2-in-1 character of the Prince of Hyrule and the Magician from the manual. But if we're talking a new game that still brings in content from all sorts of Zelda games but has voice acting this time, then I would say Error just to know how they would pronounce his name.
A Link to the Past - Agahnim
Link's Awakening - Tarin. His weapon would be a giant bag of all kinds of different mushrooms that would give him temporary abilities upon eating them. These abilities would be Mario Power-Ups in everything but name.
Ocarina of Time - Nabooru. Out of all the Sages between Ocarina of Time and Tears of the Kingdom, The Sage of Spirit is the one I have the hardest time picturing the abilities of. Mineru in Totk can separate her spirit from her body but that's all we know of for sure. And compared to all the other Sage elements, that's pretty tame. I've heard some intriguing fan ideas for the concept of Soul Magic but aside from that, let's see what the original Sage of Spirit can bring to the table.
Majora's Mask - Majora's Wrath
Oracle of Seasons - Even though these ARE good choices, Onox and Din are a little too easy to guess. As are the 3 animal partners in both Oracle games. For the sake of going a little out there, I'm going to say Vire.
Oracle of Ages - Once again, Veran and Nayru are too easy. I'm going to go with Ralph instead. Who's only ever seen using a sword in the source game, but I think you can expand his options by letting him use the items from Oracle of Ages.
Four Swords - Not sure what you'd name the character, but I'd have to go with another version of Link that uses the Fours Swords to make himself a 4-in-1 character.
Wind Waker - I want to say the old Sage of Earth because it'd be really cool to see a Zora using Earth Magic instead of Water Magic, but there is such a thing as going TOO out there and I think that's an example of it. So I'll say Makar instead.
Four Swords Adventures - Much like how the Great Fairies in Age of Calamity are a 4-in-1 character where the one you're in control of changes with certain attacks, I'm thinking a 6-in-1 character that brings the maidens other than Zelda together for the same concept.
Minish Cap - Vaati. Don't worry, I didn't forget about him. I was just saving him for Minish Cap because of his humanoid form from that game and his focus on obtaining the Light Force. Which would be his weapon, and that would be pretty neat to see a big villain character defaulting to a Light Element weapon.
Twilight Princess - Hero's Shade
Phantom Hourglass - It pains me to say it, but I can't choose Linebeck. I want to, but I just can't picture what he'd do in battle. I have to resort to Oshus with the 3 fairies alongside him instead.
Spirit Tracks - Byrne
Skyward Sword - Groose
A Link Between Worlds - Hilda
Tri Force Heroes - To give credit where it's due, Lady Maud makes sense, but I've never played Tri Force Heroes or seen the boss fight against Lady Maud before. So I'm going to say Princess Styla making use of the various outfits and items the Links can use in Tri Force Heroes because that's something I can more confidently envision a moveset for.
Breath of the Wild - I don't want to pick anyone who was playable in Age of Calamity for this post, so I think the only option I really have left is Kass.
Tears of the Kingdom - Rauru
And real quick as some honorable mentions, I do think that Ezlo and Anjean would make for good characters from Minish Cap and Spirit Tracks as well.
Zelda 2 - If we're talking strictly within the realm of the original, I would say a 2-in-1 character of the Prince of Hyrule and the Magician from the manual. But if we're talking a new game that still brings in content from all sorts of Zelda games but has voice acting this time, then I would say Error just to know how they would pronounce his name.
A Link to the Past - Agahnim
Link's Awakening - Tarin. His weapon would be a giant bag of all kinds of different mushrooms that would give him temporary abilities upon eating them. These abilities would be Mario Power-Ups in everything but name.
Ocarina of Time - Nabooru. Out of all the Sages between Ocarina of Time and Tears of the Kingdom, The Sage of Spirit is the one I have the hardest time picturing the abilities of. Mineru in Totk can separate her spirit from her body but that's all we know of for sure. And compared to all the other Sage elements, that's pretty tame. I've heard some intriguing fan ideas for the concept of Soul Magic but aside from that, let's see what the original Sage of Spirit can bring to the table.
Majora's Mask - Majora's Wrath
Oracle of Seasons - Even though these ARE good choices, Onox and Din are a little too easy to guess. As are the 3 animal partners in both Oracle games. For the sake of going a little out there, I'm going to say Vire.
Oracle of Ages - Once again, Veran and Nayru are too easy. I'm going to go with Ralph instead. Who's only ever seen using a sword in the source game, but I think you can expand his options by letting him use the items from Oracle of Ages.
Four Swords - Not sure what you'd name the character, but I'd have to go with another version of Link that uses the Fours Swords to make himself a 4-in-1 character.
Wind Waker - I want to say the old Sage of Earth because it'd be really cool to see a Zora using Earth Magic instead of Water Magic, but there is such a thing as going TOO out there and I think that's an example of it. So I'll say Makar instead.
Four Swords Adventures - Much like how the Great Fairies in Age of Calamity are a 4-in-1 character where the one you're in control of changes with certain attacks, I'm thinking a 6-in-1 character that brings the maidens other than Zelda together for the same concept.
Minish Cap - Vaati. Don't worry, I didn't forget about him. I was just saving him for Minish Cap because of his humanoid form from that game and his focus on obtaining the Light Force. Which would be his weapon, and that would be pretty neat to see a big villain character defaulting to a Light Element weapon.
Twilight Princess - Hero's Shade
Phantom Hourglass - It pains me to say it, but I can't choose Linebeck. I want to, but I just can't picture what he'd do in battle. I have to resort to Oshus with the 3 fairies alongside him instead.
Spirit Tracks - Byrne
Skyward Sword - Groose
A Link Between Worlds - Hilda
Tri Force Heroes - To give credit where it's due, Lady Maud makes sense, but I've never played Tri Force Heroes or seen the boss fight against Lady Maud before. So I'm going to say Princess Styla making use of the various outfits and items the Links can use in Tri Force Heroes because that's something I can more confidently envision a moveset for.
Breath of the Wild - I don't want to pick anyone who was playable in Age of Calamity for this post, so I think the only option I really have left is Kass.
Tears of the Kingdom - Rauru
And real quick as some honorable mentions, I do think that Ezlo and Anjean would make for good characters from Minish Cap and Spirit Tracks as well.