After almost 2,000 days of waiting, the time has finally arrived. Three days from when I’m writing this, the newest game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Tears of the Kingdom (TotK), will release. This much anticipated game has seen no shortage of hype, with trailers, leaks, and social media posts galore. Although by the time this article comes out it will be released, I would like to take a moment to talk about things I’m most looking forward to.
The Game
The game overall is shaping up to be a phenomenal addition to the Zelda franchise. This is the first direct sequel in the franchise to use the same world and characters as the previous one, with TotK taking place a few years after Breath of the Wild (BotW). Sequel games like Majora’s Mask may take place directly after their predecessor, but the world and events have been vastly different. Being able to follow the same Link and Zelda on another adventure will be something fresh and new.
The Teasers
Nintendo has been keeping their cards close, clearly showing us the bare minimum to keep us excited. The new abilities have been shown in detail, the new additions to the world, like the sky islands, have been teased, and exciting scenes like boss fights and complex puzzles have been shown in small parts. I’m ready for all of these hints to come together into an exciting experience.
The Story
The story is something that I am very interested in. In the most recent trailer, we saw the most of the plot that has been teased so far, with information about the different supporting characters that are returning, like Sidon and Riju, and some of the new characters that have been shown. The linear aspects of the story aren’t clear yet, as the trailer is made to enhance the hype rather than tell the narrative parts of the plot, so it will be interesting to see how everything comes together upon release.
The World
The world has also been shown to be vastly different, with the main map from Breath of the Wild being updated with new structures, developing stables and towns, and the falling debris from the sky islands. The sky islands are also new, allowing Link to explore above the clouds on these new floating areas. These sky-high areas of exploration aren’t the only new area, with several clips showing underground areas that are new to the game. Previously only small parts of the world have been underground or in caves, but from what we have seen, there will be vast caverns to explore and large subterranean areas related to the story.
The Characters
Of course, getting to see the same Link and Zelda from BotW will be extremely exciting. The fact that they’ve had a few years of time to reconnect after a hundred years apart adds a lot of potential for growth. It does seem that Link and Zelda will spend most of the game apart, as per the usual, but seeing them together in any capacity will be very enjoyable.
Other characters like Sidon, Riju, and Tulin making more appearances is else I’m looking forward to. I’ve fallen in love with these characters and am excited to see them serve a larger part in the story. Other more minor characters, like Paya, Spinch, and Impa will hopefully also make an appearance once again.
The Lore
This game has huge implications on the overall lore of the Zelda franchise. Piecing together the different games and incarnations of the characters is one of the most enjoyable parts of the series, and with this game, there will be no shortage of that. Having Ganondorf returned will be hugely important, as well as if we see the Triforce make a proper appearance. The return of Fi from Skyward Sword has also been hinted at, something that will truly change the game, since she hasn’t been seen since the first game in the timeline, and thousands of years have passed since then. I could go on and on about the huge lore breaking events that are sure to happen, but suffice it to say that I am exceedingly excited no matter what.
Final Thoughts
This is the first Zelda game that I have waited for since it was originally announced. A mainline Zelda game hasn’t been released in six years now. The fact that we are getting this hugely phenomenal game, and that it looks so good already, makes me endlessly excited. If you’re wondering what I’ll be doing for the next few weeks, look no further than the release of this masterpiece.