Zelda also wields a new slate this time around, that is far more reminiscent of the Switch than the Wii U, hinting that she either found a second for her own use, or Link no longer requires it thanks to the magical arm business he has going down. Yes, I am begging for Zelda to be playable , and all the pieces falling neatly into place like this doesn’t help matters.

Another instance of an unfamiliar green power appears as Link fires off an arrow in the direction of one of the new flying enemies we see in this footage. Link's shot glows green before he releases, and even though this round-tipped arrow is aimed off to the side of his enemy, it manages to home in on the creature and strike

Although the land of Hyrule looks familiar to anybody who played Breath of the Wild, the skies above are an entirely different matter. Similar to Nintendo's Skyward Sword , Hyrule appears to have a completely separate world all located within its cerulean blue atmosphere.

Catching insects, lizards and other small critters in Breath of the Wild is a matter of careful movements and quick reflexes, as stealth is a key factor in not scaring the small animals away. Meanwhile, the Bug Net is a familiar Zelda tool that nevertheless failed to make it into BOTW . Infamously a Zelda item capable of reflecting magic , its intended use is naturally to help Link capture small creatures, typically insects, for a variety of purposes. If the Bug Net is included in Tears of the Kingdom , it will make doing so much easier, and as a result, the player would have a greater supply of useful elixir ingredie

In one of the early shots of the trailer, we can see the Bridge of Hylia, the massive bridge that spans the entire length of Lake Hylia. Most of this is familiar territory to those who've played the previous game, but one creature stands out - an ominous, three-headed dragon standing at the end of the bri

Whenever Nintendo decides to provide an answer surrounding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom , it hurls out dozens more questions and keeps the theory wheels turning in our brains. Yesterday’s Direct featured an extended glimpse at new gameplay mechanics, while also teasing a healthy dose of character and narrative details I am totally going to read too much into and come to conclusions that probably won’t end up happening.

For fans that aren't too concerned about the gameplay or story of the highly-anticipated Breath of the Wild sequel being a let-down, the release of Tears of the Kingdom can't come soon enough. As a result, long and protracted delays could cause the biggest backlash from fans of all, ultimately even potentially tarnishing the release when it does eventually come. With the May release date still standing though, there's reason to be optimis

Naturally, the excitement surrounding TOTK stems in no small part from the smashing success of Breath Ocarina Of Time Split the Wild . BOTW innovated on the generations of open-world, action-adventure gameplay that came before it, but also possessed a unique identity, stressing creative locomotion and unbridled exploration, that inspired countless other developers. While there's no game that's just like Breath of the Wild , there are many games that make use of similar concepts, mechanics, and aesthetic, each offering a comparable but unique experie

There are several tools that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ** could include that Breath of the Wild ** did not fully provide the player with. Link collects a wide variety of tools throughout the Zelda franchise, used for everything from transportation to manipulating his environment. But although BOTW featured a wide variety of weapons, some of which had secondary uses, it was curiously lacking in more permanent to

Fans believe these are two different characters, but what if they’re the same person with a different soul or identity? It would make sense given the generational history of Link as The Hero of Time, and how who he is has been passed down from person to person for millennia. Awakening the power of the past in their time of need isn’t exactly ridiculous, giving Nintendo an opportunity to delve into lore and potentially turn Ganon into a sympathetic figure for once.

Throughout the Legend of Zelda series, the princess has often been disappointingly reduced to a damsel-in-distress role, but her Breath of the Wild characterization made her far more human and likable as a character. Now would be the perfect time for her to have more agency which is why there have been countless calls for her to be a playable character in the sequel. For Tears of the Kingdom to ignore fans and give her the same clichéd role again would be more than disappoint

My key takeaway is the bravery Nintendo has shown when it comes to expanding upon Breath of the Wild with a sequel that not only takes place in the same world, but questions its history and the characters within it we’ve already come to know and love. No longer confined by tragic flashbacks and environmental storytelling, Link and Zelda now occupy the present day and will make choices lined with immense and immediate consequences. We are set to learn so much about them and likely come to view them as different people by the time it’s all over. Not just in this game, but how these two iconic characters have been portrayed throughout history.