Dark Link

Dark Link (also known as Shadow Link or Link's Shadow; in Japan, simply as Doppelgänger) is the evil alter ego of the hero of Hyrule, Link. This shadowy being resembles Link exactly, except for the fact that Dark Link is completely black. Shadow Link is also a master swordsman, just like the original. Dark Link has appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee as the opponent of Event Match 18: Link's Adventure. In the battle, the player controls a red-clad Link, who has two extra lives. The fighter must defeat Shadow Link, who also has two lives. The two swordsman fought at Hyrule Temple, with no time limit.

Trivia

• Dark Link's Event Match, "Link's Adventure", is a reference to the game Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. In this game, Link's Shadow was the final boss, as opposed to his master Ganon (the major villain of the series who was defeated in the game's prequel, The Legend of Zelda).
• The event match description states that while everyone has a dark side, Link has two dark sides. One is obviously Dark Link, while the other is subject to debate. In the event match, Link wears a red tunic, perhaps indicating Link's personal dark side, as the color red symbolizes "Power" in The Legend of Zelda series and is associated with the villain Ganondorf. However, Shadow Link has two stock lives in the battle, perhaps indicating that each stock life is one of the two dark sides mentioned in the description.
• Unlike other enemies featured in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Dark Link does not have a trophy.
• Shadow Link is the first doppelgänger of a major Nintendo hero, being created even before Mario's "evil twin" Wario. Later examples include Shadow Mario and Dark Samus.