Finally, after fans have waited so long, Nintendo has confirmed new key details about its highly anticipatedThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomthat have sparked fresh speculation, chief among which involves the game’s new green magic. Though the latest trailer showcased in September’s Nintendo Direct confirms other details such as the official subtitle to theBreath of the Wildsequel and a release date for 2023, fans have been discussing thenewZeldagame’s reintroduction of magic. Out of all the changes anticipated forTears of the Kingdom, a refocus on magic could be significant in some big ways.
Without explicit confirmation on how magic will factor intoThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomfans can only work from the various trailers that have been released so far. For example, the reveal of Link’s arm being “corrupted” in some mystical way looks visually reminiscent of Sheikah technology, leading some to believe that this will be the origin and application of magic within the game. However,Tears of the Kingdom’slatest trailer and new official logo could potentially change this and forge new connections to earlier games likeThe Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess.
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A Helping Hand From Sheikah Technology
The state and evolution of Link’s arm is a mystery, but there are some clues that suggest a timeline of events. From the initial reveal that teasedTears of the Kingdomaudiences saw Zelda and Link, without a corrupted arm, descending below Hyrule and coming acrossGanondorf’s mummified remains. While leaking what appears to be Malice, a green hand of spiraling magic seems to be restraining his body. The connection between this hand and Link’s own is easy to make, and could suggest that Ganondorf’s return is what leads to Link’s transformation.
At the time of this reveal, fans immediately assumed that this hand and magic tied directly into the Sheikah who had been responsible for all the other ancient technology seen throughoutBreath of the Wild.This was further supported by that same Sheikah technological designs appearing across Link’s arm, implying that this technology would factor intoTears of the Kingdomand likely allowNintendo to reset Link’s abilitiesto refocus gameplay on new magic mechanics.
However, one snag to this interpretation is that the Sheikah technology inBreath of the Wildhad been stylized with blue, not green. This may just be a design choice made by Nintendo to giveTears of the Kingdomsome visual distinction from its predecessor, but it could similarly be a subtle indication that this magic may be a different, possible darker version of Sheikah technology just asBreath of the Wild’ssequel was seen as a darker game. Alternatively, if this new magic is not of Sheikah origin, then one wonders where does it come from.
The Buried Legacy Of Twilight Princess
Following the latest trailer, fans have noted that the corrupted Master Sword in the game’s logo bears a striking resemblance to the Twili technology last seen inTwilight Princess. Though similar to the geometric design of Sheikah technology, the Twili technology was characterized by its blue-green color and its ability to “fuse” with those exposed to it. Therefore, Link’s fusion with some long forgotten Twili technology seems possible, especially when considering thatBreath of the Wildand its sequel are at the far end ofZelda’sbranching timelines.
SavvyZeldafans will also know thatTwilight Princess’Ganondorf was ultimately slain by Link with a Master Sword to the chest. This is significant, as from the reveal trailer, it’s shown that the green hand clutching at Ganondorf’s chest is right where the sword had pierced. It therefore theorized that theGanondorf inBreath of the Wild’ssequelwill be the same players saw inTwilight Princess,sealed away and buried deep beneath Hyrule. It’s possible that the Twili had done this following the events ofTwilight Princess, but with Malice now leaking from the wound this seal could finally be weakening.
With all these things considered, it could be more likely that the green magic seen inTears of the Kingdomis not of Sheikah origin but instead from the Twili. How this will manifest and factor into the game if true remains unclear, but it could add new depth to the lore ofZeldabetweenBreath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom,andTwilight Princess. ConnectingTwilight Princessto the upcomingTears of the Kingdomwill only heighten players' anticipation, drawing in bothTwilight Princessfans andBreath of the Wildlovers alike.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis set to release onMay 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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