The sequel to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild now has a title and release date. Previously, information regarding the sequel, besides the fact that it exists, had remained mostly under wraps.
This month’s Nintendo Direct presentation gave us a brand new trailer and a release date of May 12, 2023, for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
The trailer features Link soaring through Hyrule in many new ways on massive platforms nested high in the sky. At E3 2021, another trailer featured Link using an assortment of new weapons, abilities, and ways to navigate the world.
While this recent presentation fails to give away much except for certain important details, the video showcases Link coming into contact with various hieroglyphics. This may be pointing toward a larger story or myth. Furthermore, there appears to be a deity surrounded by icons that may look like proverbial tears.
Climbing and gliding make a return, and there’s a commonality shared amongst fan theories that saw Breath of the Wild 2 is going to be a spiritual successor to Skyward Sword. In particular, this theory claims that by beginning its story in the sky, there is almost an exact guarantee that it will return for the final act.
There is also a clear head nod to time manipulation. Backward vocal clips are audible in various trailers, yet the community still hasn’t made any common sense of them. Furthermore, Link’s arm gadget appears to allow him to redirect the flow of time for a boulder and dive into the sky once a water droplet passes backward.
If we are truly getting involved with multiple time periods, then it means that there is a chance we will have access to multiple playable characters in the vein of the Hyrule Warriors sub-franchise.
Initially, a follow-up to Breath of the Wild was announced at E3 2019, and continues to be much anticipated. The original game, which came out on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, became one of the most beloved entries in the franchise.
Breath of the Wild managed to bridge a gap between long-time fans and newcomers in a vast open world full of the same exploration found in competing AAA titles but with the style of The Legend of Zelda.
The natural gliding and climbing abilities made Hyrule a wonder to explore, and instead of overwhelming you with a massive map, it allows players to take things completely at their own pace.
Whether you want to go and power all the way up with the best weapons and maximum stamina or try to take on Calamity Ganon from the very beginning of the experience, you have total freedom in Breath of the Wild.
Miyamoto confirmed to the public that the creation of Breath of the Wild 2 was because the overwhelming amount of content ideas they had would not fit into DLC for the original. Although many new features have been added, it remains to be seen what Nintendo’s plans are for weapon durability, a key mechanic in the first title. Combat will likely see a heavy facelift as well.
However, it appears that several ideas we see in the new trailer are derived from familiar places. For instance, having Link’s arm be a weapon was seen as early as the original Breath of the Wild’s concept art. The original concept art also featured the paraglider design.
If you look closely, Hyrule has evolved in its appearance since the original game. For example, smoke can no longer be seen coming from Death Mountain, new debris is visible on Hyrule Field, there are missing Zonai pillars, and certain enemies look different.