Game Theory: BEWARE Link's Hookshot in Legend of Zelda! 

*MatPat says the Ocarina of Time was only in one game* Majora's Mask: "Am I just a metaphor for death to you?"

It's interesting to think that botw is the only Zelda game in like 25+ years to not have the Hookshot or anything like it in the game. It's one of those items that seems like it would have fit into the climbing aesthetic really well too.

Wow. Links magic is strong enough to keep him uninjured during a hookshot launch but he cant utilize it in any way. Wow.

Bro, what if hylians have different muscles or bone mass than us humans? Something to do a video about

All this, and we haven't even considered what happens when Link smashes into that wall at the end HEAD FIRST.

Damn, I learn more from Game Theory than any math classes I've been in.

Looking back on old videos and seeing Ronnie's editing really hits you in the gut, doesn't it?

2 things I'd like to bring up for the validity of Link being able to use the Long Shot from Ocarina of Time 1) Link has super human strength, being able to push an over 9 ton block of stone. For instance, the stone blocks in the Fire Temple are approximately double the size of Link. with a cubic meter of generic stone weighing in at a whopping 2,515kg, we determine that the block would weigh around 8551kg, which is over 18,800lbs. Being able to exert that much force requires tremendous strain on muscles, ligaments, and tendons, yet Link is able to move them with a few grunts, without the use of the Silver or Gold Gauntlets 2) What if the material of the Long Shot was made by a different metal than a steel alloy? Scandium and Beryllium are similar to steal with hardness and tinsel strength, but are much less dense. If we assumed the Long Shot was made with Scandium, the tool would weigh about 64lbs. If it was made out of Beryllium, it would weigh approximately 40lbs. With these weights, it would be more in the realm of possibility for the Long Shot to be able to function without permanently damaging the user

Well how about THIS MatPat? What kind of damage is inflicted in Smash Bros. when Link uses the Hookshot to reel people in?! Not ONLY are they being dragged towards Link with great force, but the hookshot is ALSO piercing their armor/skin.

And link still hits his Head on the wall......

Imagine Gannondorf placing a longshot in a chest, see link open the chest and be like “yes. Grab it you filthy green man!”

13:46 Pot: exists Link: ENEMY S*POT*TED!

This is how math teachers should teach us. Use video games as story problems instead of the "Dequan and Fernando want to know how many apples they would have if they dropped 1/3."

I can only imagine how many pointless angry "IT'S JUST A GAME" and "IT'S FANTASY" comments you must be getting... Whenever I talk about video game weapons and their practicality (or lack thereof) in real life there is plenty of that. But analyzing games like that is just hilarious. It has entertainment value, just like games and fantasy in general. Great video!

Saying F=ma in the fun way you do IS memorable as I used it to remember it for my exams. Nice jobert there MatPat

He never brought up the fact that link also shouldn’t be able to come to a complete stop just because he reached the end of the hook shot

AHAH, BUT ONE THING YOU DIDNT FACTOR IN HERE... You didnt factor in that being moved so fast in so short of a time, his body would still be accelerated at that speed so he wouldnt just stop he would slam insanely hard into the wall and probably break nearly all his bones he would be injured EVEN WORSE than you said xD

Thing is "average human being" probably couldn't take a behemoth strike from some of the forces Link can . Why not use his "hearts" to judge just how much trauma Link's body can take. For instance, he can be struck with a sword 40 times straight on before he perishes. That should say a lot about how much his body can actually take. The durability of his body and the amount of force it can take is probably one of the reasons he could use something like this.

Matpat: *shows ocarina of time* sure but that was only for one game Me: *TWO GAMES* Edit: welp I’m a hypocrite lmao it’s four games

Its so satisfying and wholesome to see how much game theory has evolved and where it started. Also MatPat in his twenties had some interesting sense of humour

I'm glad you're going back to this style of video. Lots of math and science, and best of all, actually a theory. Keep up the good work!

Came for the theory, stayed for the physics class

This was the first game theory episode I watched. I had to rewatch it right after matpat announced his retirement.

Sooo in other words YA DEAD SON! Yikes imagine hitting the wall at that speed...

Assuming Link managed to Keep hold of the Hookshot (also assuming he's as squishy as MatPat would Imply) You have to wonder, Flying at a stone wall at 20 m/s, How much damage does Link sustain from Slamming into said stone wall?

Well, it's a good thing Link is part of the magical race known as the Hylians, plus the extra power boost from being the bearer of the Triforce of Courage helps and most likely, the Hookshot and the Longshot would be made of one of the 3 Pure Metals (Crimsonine, Azurine and Aquanine) found in the Zelda universe, which when combined forge the Phantom Sword, a greatsword so light that even our Tiny Toon hero can wield it with 1 hand. The sword is literally the length of Link's body, with a very thick blade. So, with the combination of a magical body, Triforce powers and extra-light and uber-hard, yet not easily shattered metals, we should get a much better result. The metals used are also not common, which might be the reason why not a single adept mage is using the Hookshot or Longshot.

Wait did he account for the stop of the grappling hook because I learned form his other video the stop of the momentum for 45 mph to zero would probably break his skull

This is the first Game Theory video I ever watched, it felt really nostalgic going back

Well, Link's arms are probably fine. He has the goron's bracelet by the time you get the water temple, so his arms can withstand a far greater force. For the rest of it, it may be that the bracelet acts as a damper, reducing the overall force exerted on his body. Also, let's not forget that Link is chilling with a Fairy. A species which in the LoZ universe can resurrect someone from death, or as close as to make little difference. It may be a different variety, as Navi never actually saves you (something I've wondered about... maybe because she would have to sacrifice herself and thus could no longer act as Link's guide) but she's in all likelihood got access to some sort of magic, e.g. being able to detect enemies' weak spots. Even more so as by the time he acquires the hookshot, he has the Triforce of Courage. This is not a standard Hylian boy we're dealing with. In fact, it isn't anyway. This is a boy who can run for days carrying a sackful of, as was established in the video, items that are far heavier then him, even climbing with this shit. Even as a child, in the range of what, 5-10? Not super important, but he was able to wield swords and shields able to best the minions of Ganondorf, or just evil in general, who were at least sufficiently powerful that the most powerful warriors of the various castes you meet (Goron, Kokiri, Zora) cant shift it. And the Gorons at least seem a capable bunch. This doesn't invalidate anything said in the video, it's just that clearly Link IS able to wield the hookshot consistently, and accomplish other superhuman feats. Maybe being the hero of time has some unexpected benefits? For that matter, what happened to him while he was in the Temple of Time for 10 years (or so, I don't remember.) Before this, you accomplished extraordinary feats, like defeating the various dungeon bosses, but the items you get are fairly mundane, such as a slingshot and deku nuts. Then after, the real crazy shit starts to come out, lugging around over 20 bombs with no clear means of storage. Could this be a result of the power of the Temple of Time? It's clearly not just time travel or he'd still be Young Link. Is it the Triforce of Courage? Could it maybe be like Majora's Mask, all in Link's head? I have my own prefered solution, which is that Ganondorf remade the world in his image, using the power, at least of the Triforce of Power. While not up to it's full potential, he would conceivably have some influence over the nature of the world. Clearly, as a man constrained by physical laws, his power was limited, but the Triforce of Power allowed him to... bend that a little. This, as the triforce can remake the WORLD in the image of the user, not the user themselves, would mean that anyone with sufficient will could maybe accomplish similar feats. I may be talking out of my ass, but remember where this comment is. And here, we give proper considerations to people's opinions, even if it is just a theory. A GAME THEORY! Thanks for reading!

Also, Link would rocket into the object with no possible way of stopping. His body will hit the surface so hard it will deliver the blow to finish Link.

"F=ma isn't memorable" I literally used his way of saying it to remember it for a year (I haven't watched this video in so long ik)

"The most iconic item..." You mean the green hat? :D

So hook shot is more of a suicide weapon than an actual weapon

You forgot the sudden deceleration. When Link reaches his destination, there is no visible inertia. That means that the rest of his body now slams forward less than a second after a backwards slam of equal force. I'm no genius, and I am armed only with basic physics knowledge and my logic (no maths), but this would probably do most of these things to him: Send his eyes flying out of their sockets, make him lose bowel , urinary and stomach control, making him pee, poo, and toss his cookies simultaneously, possibly send his organs flying through his rib cage, getting cut up into slices in the process, destroy every fragile little bone in both his ears, slam his brain into his skull for the second time, shatter every bone in his legs and maybe his hips too, and let's not even talk about the internal hemorrhaging.

0:10 Majora’s Mask: “Am I a joke to you?” (the ocarina also plays a HUGE role in that game, for those who don’t get it, maybe even more so than Ocarina of Time.”

If MatPat didn't say "Just gonna let that one sit there for a second." I wouldn't have realized what he said at 9:42... "How is this guy possibly keeping this massive thing in his pants?!" XD

If only this is what teachers meant when they said "let's have fun with learning"

As a physics major I enjoy your mathy episodes. But you've neglected one thing, that being inertia. An object in motion will stay in motion unless a force is acted upon it. How exactly is the hero of time suppose to slow to a halt as he is soaring to his destination? In all likelyhood when the long shot completely retracts, Link's body would remain in motion causing him to overshoot his target and lose grip of the long shot. I doubt he would be able to slow himself down from 20 m/s with a broken arm/wrist. Link's target would have to be directly above him so gravity could bring him to rest after traveling a vertical hight of 20.4 meters(I did the math). Anything other than 90 degrees(directly above him), Link will fly by the target in the horizontal direction or crash into a wall. lol

I am now ready to outsmart my classmates who are gamers. Thank you master. (Hopefully, my classmates know and play Legend of Zelda)

I consider his shield a weapon in the right context so really the hook shot is the 3rd most iconic weapon in my eyes

Omg I felt so bad for the little link that was shown through the video. He looked so heartbroken when he broke his bones.

how does his hat stay on?

old matpat would laugh if he saw the future theory about links strength

I miss when game theories were a lot more science-y, and in turn, violent.

Ok, but bear with me for a second (pun intended, it’ll make sense soon, I hope) If one considers that Hyrule is a place that exists/existed/will existo n Earth, then one should also assume that each day/night cycle should last 24 hours, right? However, according to Zelda’s Wiki, each day on Ocarina of Time (OoT) lasts ~2,5 Real Life minutes (I’ll call them RL, for short), and each night lasts ~1,3 RL minutes. So, we could say that each OoT Hour during the Day lasts something around 12 RL Seconds, and each OoT Hour during the Night lasts about 6 RL Seconds In that case, after some magical rule of three math, one could conclude that ONE RL Second represents 300 OoT DAY Seconds and 600 OoT NIGHT Seconds. Now things start to get weird/interesting. Let’s talk about Day Time only, for now. The Longshot travels roughly at 20m/RL Second, which we now know represents around 300 OoT Seconds. Being so, the Longshot is, in fact, traveling 20 Meters in 300 OoT Seconds, not in 1 Second - in one OoT second, it travels only 0,03 Meters and thus its acceleration equals 0,03 m/(s^2). Throwing all of this in F = m X a, we now have F = 86kg (already brilliantly calculated by The Game Theorists) X 0,03 m/(s^2): Longshot’s Force applied over Link while it’s being fired is only around 2,58 Newtons during the day (even less during the night: 1,29 N). I’m pretty sure I’m ignoring a lot of important things here, but still, moving on. With all that said, one could finally infer a few things: 1) Link could, theoretically, fire the Longshot (and be pulled by it) without having his bones and internal organs crushed 2) Link is, in fact, an EXTREMELY slow hero and the whole game had to be accelerated so that we wouldn’t die before being able to finish it 3) Link's so clumsy that he goes even slower at night so that he won't accidently trip on something while running. 4) I believe that if one would also calculate the actual force applied by Link when he swings his sword, one would also find out that, actually, every enemy in Hyrule is really really weak/breakable and/or that Link’s weapons are actually made of some crazy powerful stuff 5) All of this without even mentioning that there are some places in Hyrule where time stops, and that's creepy and I won't test my really weak math skills in that territory

I feel bad everytime i use the Clawshot in Twilight Princess now...

Those elf bones have no trouble hurling giant pillars into the air, and slapping dinosaur sized monsters in full charge around. I think they should be fine.

8:15 "He's the Angry, Video Game.. Neerrrdddd...."

"How is this guy possibly keeping this massive thing in his pants?"

Singlehandedly destroying my childhood dreams as always, MatPat. Thanks for doing what you do, you beautiful man.

This reminds me of how I always found it strange that even after getting the silver & golden gauntlets, you STILL need to hold Biggoron's Sword with 2 hands. Also maybe the Hookshot is made of a special material which only exists in the Zelda Universe. It's like how in ALBW we find Master Ore to improve the Master Sword

this brings back nostalgia from when i was 12 and watching game theory on the family computer at my dad’s house

Game theory? Nah. Girl this be flat out nerd science. AND I LOVE IT.

Link is allso instanltly stopping when he hits the wall (or whatever kind of object he flies into)... That may be enough to kill him...

my only arguement as to why link survives the hookshot is that he obtained the goron bracelet as a child which if it adds the strength of a goron to a child then that strength increased as an adult and you look at the granite blocks he pushes in the forest temple it would be reasonable to assume that he could survive the strain that the hookshot would produce.

1:25 BotW: *I’m about to end this mans whole career.*

It's obvious, don't you see it? Link drinks a lot of milk.

Meet MatPat, the only human on Earth to actually use the irrelevant math formulas given to us at school.

Matpat:*calling out skyward sword robots* Nintendo:We're doing a sequel!*makes more robots in future installments"

also inertia would keep link moving forward even when he gets there. he would be smacking into whatever he was grappling to.

what about the impact and deceleration? im pretty sure link is dead

Man I learn more from game theory than I do from school

One thing you have to remember though is Link is Hylian not Human he is a variation of an elf in many ways too so his bone density muscle density and all that and might actually be much better suited to handling the hookshot but hey, that's just a theory.

This is easily my favorite theory every saw this a bit ago but was still looking around

Maybe Nintendo didn’t add one in legend of Zelda breath of the wild because they saw this video

Man matpat I learn more stuff from u then I do in school

well in that case, try to beat the water temple without the hookshot

Old game theories have a certain charm to them.

Oh dear, Game Theory, you didn't pay attention in physics class this time. A couple observations: -The force exerted by the chain upon Link's arm would vary with what mass per unit length (excluding the "head" or "grip" or whatever) was, at the time, being extended. The force, therefore, is non-constant; and is applied to Link's arm over the course of the extension of the Hookshot, considering that the velocity at which the chain is shot is somewhat constant. (Let me tell you now, you need calculus to derive an equation for the force exerted over time. Although you're probably aware that it would be a differential parametric equation.) -Even if you disregarded that, and approximated the overall force that Link would need to exert, it still wouldn't break his arm. Why? Well, because of a funny little thing called impulse. The force of 12000 Newtons required to break a human hand is a calculation based off of an arbitrary, but extremely small, distance (and time) over which the force is exerted. However, the TOTAL (estimatory) force of ~17000 N that Link must counteract to remain still would be over the course of, as you said, an entire second. When one thinks of breaking a hand, it's something like a fall, or getting hit by a baseball bat. And although there is undoubtedly a threshold of force which defines the ambiguous maximum force human bones can take, the deformation of a bone (which is, incidentally, a conversion of kinetic energy) would still depend, at least to an extent, on the impulse that would otherwise be the consequence of that force. Obviously, these are just estimations, and I could very well still be wrong. I'm merely observing that something of a shoddy job was done this time around. Although good job calculating the volume of the hook; that must have been miserable.

You missed something... There's all that acceleration, great, but what about when Link gets to the other side of the pit? He still has to make a very sudden and abrupt STOP. I'm surprised you didn't discuss that.

Came back here after the retirement announcement, never noticed there was a theorists Facebook

I almost feel like Hylian physiology needs its own video. Look at how Link is able to jump, climb, run, forego food/water/sleep, absorb impact, and grapple creatures much larger than him. You can chuck that up to him being magically enhanced, but he's always portrayed as a normal Hylian kid who happens to be extra brave, so are ALL Hylians that naturally OP compared to humans??? howdo their metabolisms work?? what sort of freakish bone and muscle density do they have??

Mat Pat you forgot that after Link uses the hook shot he just stops hitting the wall or log or some thing.

This took a dark...DARK turn.

Not to mention the damage done by Link smashing into wherever he's pulled to.

In my opinion this is the last classic episode of game theory. 2014 was the golden years of game theory

Can matpat just be my maths teacher already?? I've learnt more watching videos here then actually going to school.

link has super elf strength and durability, remember when he lifted the huge rectangular stone? so he should be ok using this thing.

This was one of my favorite theories back in the day. Goodbye MatPat

coming back to my first theory after mats big announcement. haven’t seen this vid in years and was 11when it came out.

12,000 Newtons. That tells you how crappy Newton's strength is.

I'm never using the Hookshot again.

What about link going from 45mph to a solid 0mph at the end of his painful ride on the hook shot

13:45 That is perfect.

I STILL can't believe the Falcon Punch lost to this.

I guess you could call this theory a LONGSHOT

"Or me after two straight weeks of Sizzler buffets" Ahh I love this channel

Also, have you forgotten that after link shoots the hook shot and after being violently flung over to his destination, he would get forcefully smashed up against a wall, breaking more of his precious bones.

"The ocarina only appeared in one game" Ocarina of time Majora's mask. I'm sure there's more but in too lazy to research them.

25 reasons Link is not human: 1. He has the pocket capacity of a parking garage. 2. He is multi-incarnate (last I checked, I can't do that). 3. Link falls into pits or from incredible heights losing only up to one heart at best. In some games, he even falls down floors without taking any damage like A Link to the Past. 4. Link instantly knows how to play musical instruments or use weapons on picking them up without any prior experience. 5. Link is never affected by injuries, he could be at twenty hearts or one heart left but will still keep fighting normally. 6. He heaves a ball and chain in Twilight Princess. How does that not affect him anymore when he puts it away. 7. He can switch between his normal and iron boots on mind command because... magic! 8. Link can target five targets with his boomerang in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. No physics explanation? 9. Link can lift granite with the Golden Gauntlets but he leans it towards him, but since he has it focused on lifting it up how is he preventing it from crushing him when the granite is towards his body directly? 10. He uses magic (the green bar). Definitely not a human trait. 11. Link can jump up to two to three times his height in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess jumping over enemies. Those are some leg muscles! 12. Link doesn't need sleep or isn't affected by it. He stays up for 72 straight hours in Majora's Mask. 13. Link can use Deku Sticks as his most powerful sword attack in Ocarina of Time as a kid like against Queen Gohma because... it brings out his inner child for more energy? 14. When Link pulls out bombs in Ocarina of Time what does he light them up with? He's got no fire items on him. 15. Pieces of heart and heart containers increase his health. Why rigorous training and regular combat experience doesn't do this is beyond me. 16. When Link shoots arrows, they fly in a straight line without gravity affecting it. That must be one strong bow for how much pressure Link is putting onto it! How strong is Link for him to do that? 17. Link has survived a crash into a castle in Wind Waker. 18. Link is yanked to the ceiling in Twilight Princess by magnetic boots. If it was able to pull him up, weight and everything from a distance on a platform, how much leg power is needed to put one foot in front of another with a magnetic force that strong? 19. I can understand Link pushing the big metallish blocks in Ocarina of Time, but he seems to dig his hands underneath them when he pulls it back? How in the world... 20. Link can use a shield so well in Ocarina of Time he can bounce back nuts from Deku Scrubs in the exact same trajectory and speed from where it was hit from. 21. Link CAN roll sideways in Twilight Princess and Wind Waker and uppercut with his sword in less than a second because... uhh... 22. He is incapable of getting sliced in half. This is evident from being sliced from Ganon's large, sharp weapons in Ocarina of Time and the axe from the Iron Knuckles in the Spirit Temple. 23. Pressure doesn't affect him underwater. Pressure can kill a human around 350 feet. Before you bring up the Zora Tunic, remember that Link can use Iron Boots with his Kokiri Tunic and still manage the feat. 24. Link has incredible manipulative powers through his eyes. He just stands in front of people and they tell him deep, confidential stuff. (This one is just a joke and subjective, but still... it is something). 25. And finally, the longshot.

Seeing as link can easily fit the hookshot in his pocket, I wouldn't put it passed him to have a hookshot made of "magic"

Just gonna point this out, hylians tend to be more durable than would be considered possible for humans. Not only that but I imagine that the hookshot wouldn't be made of any KNOWN material. This is a land of magic and stuff. It's likely made of something super strong yet super light.

The most important part of this theory is: Don't grab a LoZ hookshoot unless you have a power bracelet or power glove. Otherwise you're going to get destroyed. Thanks for the tip Matt

5:37 "But remember, that's just--" A THEORY! A GAME--"for the hook"

And look how he stops!!! Head on into the solid block of wood/stone/etc!!! That’s gotta do way more damage!!! At the least a concussion and at worst maybe death!

Mat pat, what about titanium? It's strong enough and doesn't rust or corrode in water and it's MUCH lighter than steel

hey, link surviving the Long Shot Hook to the face is a LONG SHOT! HAH

2:15 it is still funny even after all those years. Some things just never age

This is to this day one of my favorite ever theories. It's just so fun and it uses my favorite editing style of all of them. We're gonna miss you matpat.

While some people say we need school, I say all we need is RU-vid.