Why Zelda: Tri Force Heroes excludes female playable characters

We now know why The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes doesn't feature any female playable characters.

The story for the upcoming co-op game is the main reason players can only take control of a male avatar, according to director Hiromasa Shikata.

"The story calls for this sort of legend/prophecy where heroes will come together to help solve a problem," Shikata said in an interview with IGN.

"And in that, they are male characters. So, because the game is set with that as the story background, you cannot choose a gender; you are a male character."

Shikata thinks, however, that the Zelda series' female audience won't feel alienated while playing the game.

"We do have a lot of female staff members who are playing this game and enjoying it," he added. "It doesn't seem to be a big issue to them. They still are getting emotional investment in this game.

"And to be honest, Link isn't the most masculine of guys in the world, depending on how you want to project yourself into the character."

It was recently revealed that Tri Force Heroes' main mode can't be played by only two people.

The game is scheduled to launch this fall for Nintendo 3DS.