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.
Despite the defeat of Calamity Ganon in Breath of the Wild , the latest trailer for Tears of the Kingdom finally confirms that its mysterious villain is in fact Ganondorf. Contrasting the explicitly monstrous and (for most of the game) mostly formless Calamity Ganon of BOTW , TOTK 's Ganondorf takes the form of a more humanoid Gerudo, mirroring the villains past appearances in previous Zelda games like Ocarina of Time . Interestingly, promotional art for the game shows TOTK 's Ganondorf as taking somewhat of a departure from past Gerudo designs, with an exposed chest, ponytail, and a large kat
On the subject of the floating islands, we've seen footage in past trailers for Tears of the Kingdom that shows Link reversing the trajectory of falling debris, presumably leading back up to these sky islands. Large portions of the islands have also been spotted around Hyrule, crash-landed into the surf
Our heroes spent so long saving Hyrule only to plunge it into turmoil a second time, and their relationship will soon be tested through tough decisions and sacrifices we are yet to see unfold. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and the limbs forced to adopt ancient powers to overcome unknown evil. The hopeful melancholy this land boasted in previous years has been torn away, replaced by an intense apocalyptic veneer that it will likely be our duty to wipe away. Zelda is a damsel in distress no more, and Link is no longer an untouchable hero who can hold the entire world on his shoulders. Tears of the Kingdom must confront these changing circumstances, and judging from everything we’ve seen, it likely will.
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
As the sequel to Breath of the Wild , there are high expectations for Tears of the Kingdom to follow up on the sense of wonder that BOTW provided with its open-world map. The ambitious changes from the developers could make Tears of the Kingdom better than BOTW , and there's some speculation that more classic elements will be returning to TOTK such as traditional Zelda dungeons. Yet even with the game __ expanding on the world created by BOTW , there are iconic weapons from other Zelda games that Tears of the kingdom prequel of the Kingdom needs to incl
Shield surfing is a fast and fun way to traverse Hyrule’s hills and mountains, but as with mining it comes with a price. Like weapons, shields also come with their own durability, and shield surfing in Breath of the Wild is an activity that will damage them. A dedicated Surf Board in Tears of the Kingdom would allow players to shred the slopes without fear of leaving themselves undefended in the event of a monster attack. It would also remove the possibility of a shield breaking mid-surf. If players ignore the warnings when durability runs low, this can even prove deadly for Link as he is thrown to the gro
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
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.
While some fans may not recognize Tulin as a returning character (or at all), his place in the final TOTK trailer places him as something of a stand-in for his father, the more familiar Teba, aiding Link in what seems to be sky-based portion of the game, and even being present for the appearance of a giant new boss monster. Of course, this is a major step up from his BOTW appearance, where many players are likely to not even have encountered him or the archery-based minigame that he provides. With Teba suffering from an injury in BOTW , it's likely Tulin is stepping up in his pl