About that Hero's Shade...

[LadyNintendo]

Doubt that......:/ No, seriously, I don't remember that being in TMC either.

[MasterKeyX]

I can't really say, but i don't think Minish Cap really has much to do with the Hyrule Royal family.

[Eralk Fang]

There's no in-game text to support the idea that the Hero of Men is Gustaf. It's just a very small theory of mine.

...   ...  

O young one...

Child who seeks to aid
the princess of Hyrule...
My name is Gustaf...

I was king of Hyrule, countless
ages ago.
Stand before me...

Only then will the path open
to you.

-Gustaf, The Minish Cap

However, MasterKey, Gustaf is identified as a Hylian King- man says so himself, and Ezlo, who would have probably heard about him from history, calls him King Gustaf anytime you ask for help while you try to find Gustaf. The Minish Cap is one of the rare Zelda games where we actually see a Hylian King, instead of just hearing about him, let alone two of them- Gustaf and Zelda's father, who goes unnamed. I'd say The Minish Cap has something to do with the Hyrule Royal Family!

EDIT: Zelda's father's name is Daltus, according to his figurine.

[Evilslayer]

I don't like the idea of King Gustaf being the hero of men (the title isn't capitalized, like Hero of Time and Hero of Wind). I think of him just as one of many Kings of Hyrule.

[Master Dragmire]

Gustaf was and is the Hero of Legend and Hero of Men.....MC IS FIRST DAMNIT!

[Eralk Fang]

That's your personal timeline, MattAlxdr. A great deal of fandom believes Ocarina of Time comes first. And do you have any further proof of Gustaf's identity as the Hero of Men other than what we have previously discussed?

[Master Dragmire]

just joking around...

[Bboy94]

But yes the Hero's Shade/Golden Wolf seems to be OoT's Link.

The Hero of Men is a Link we haven't seen yet. I think it was the FSDS(untitled) that Nintendo had planned(they then went to PH instead).

[Master Dragmire]

I remember reading somewhere that in the Japanese version, Gustaf says "I am the ancient hero and savior of Hyrule." but the source could not be correct....

[Bboy94]

Though it doesn't make much sense timeline wise... the Hero of Men sounds like the Link from LoZ.

[Master Dragmire]

technically that could make sense Bboy94, give urself some more credit  ... (in my timeline neways)

[DW]

who says the hero of men has to be a Link? There are other heroes you know...just becuase Link is the only one you use...

[Bboy94]

How do you know? No other mentioned hero has been succesful otherwise other than Link. That and he looks alot like Link, only he doesn't have a cap.

[Commodore Axilon]

Because we know about every single hero in the history of Hyrule, am i rite

[Eralk Fang]

Hahah.

Well, Link has been unsuccessful in the past (per The Wind Waker's prologue), as he never even showed up at one point.

Hylians tend to be fair-haired, and a green tunic doesn't automatically mean "THIS MAN IS LINK".

Hero of Men:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZeIao2UCGo

Hatless!Link:
http://www.thehylia.com/media/displayimage.php?album=2&pos=20

The Hero of Men wears a circlet and has sideburns. It's completely possible that this is a Link, but why does Link always have to save the day? It's also perfectly plausible there are Heroes outside of the various Links we play as.