Breaking the Cycle: The Divine and the Damned in Zelda's Lore
Discover how The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom breaks the cycle initiated by Skyward Sword From the Gods and the Zonai to Ganondorf and Demise, explore the depth of this iconic franchise like never before
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom could be the final installment in the timeline that began with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Speculations regarding the game's connections with other games in the series were rife before its release, with most theories revolving around Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess. However, Tears of the Kingdom's story, themes, and imagery suggest that the cycle may finally come to an end. By analyzing various details from the game, one can see how Nintendo's latest Zelda game connects to Skyward Sword. While Skyward Sword was controversial for canonizing essential Zelda lore and being considered the worst game in the series, Tears of the Kingdom might have redeemed it by providing a narrative and gameplay experience that aims to rectify its predecessor's mistakes. Ultimately, Tears of the Kingdom offers closure to both Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild.
Gods and Goddesses, The Zonai, and Fi
The game Tears of the Kingdom delves deeper into the mythos of the Zonai, which were briefly mentioned in Breath of the Wild. According to the game, the Zonai descended from the heavens long before Hyrule even existed. Although they didn't consider themselves as gods, their advanced technology, including Constructs, Zonai devices, and Secret Stones, might have given that impression. Despite this, Rauru became the king and married a Hylian woman, which is said to have led to the establishment of Hyrule.
However, this contradicts the story established in Skyward Sword, where Zelda and Link remain on the surface and create the first kingdom of Hyrule. Nevertheless, both games share similarities in their references to sky islands that protect against evil, advanced beings descending from the heavens, and the blurring of supernatural and technological aspects. With a slight adjustment, it's possible to reconcile Tears of the Kingdom with the canon of Skyward Sword.
Ganondorf, The Depths, and Demise
serves as the key element to support this theory. Despite being criticized as the worst companion in Zelda by some fans, Fi has recently been defended as a great concept that was poorly executed. She claims to be a spirit created by the Goddess Hylia, but is presented as if she were an artificial intelligence, which suggests that her history may have been reimagined and she possibly has Zonai origins. The theory gains further support from Tears of the Kingdom, where the story revolves around restoring the Master Sword, Fi's theme from Skyward Sword plays during cutscenes, and the sword appears to "respond" to other characters.
The backstory of Skyward Sword details the creation of Skyloft and other islands, which were formed due to the emergence of fissures on the surface that unleashed malevolent forces. This bears a striking resemblance to the "Upheaval" event described in Tears of the Kingdom, where chasms opened up throughout Hyrule, unleashing darkness. The concept of an "Underworld" that housed Ganondorf and his followers has been referenced in previous Zelda games, and Tears of the Kingdom also features Ganondorf's armies inhabiting the Depths, where he has taken refuge beneath Hyrule Castle.
In both Skyward Sword and Tears of the Kingdom, the main antagonist is attempting to break free from a seal placed upon them long ago. In Skyward Sword, the player encounters a boss named "The Imprisoned" multiple times, while in Tears of the Kingdom, Ganondorf is attempting to break free from a seal placed on him during "The Imprisoning War." The similarities between Demise and Ganondorf's attempts to break free, as well as Ganondorf's transformation after obtaining one of the Secret Stones, further support the theory that Tears of the Kingdom's parallels with Skyward Sword are intentional and significant. Ganondorf's appearance in Tears of the Kingdom closely resembles that of Demise, with flowing fiery hair and a body pulsing with Malice or Gloom.
Between Skyward Sword, Tears of the Kingdom, and Beyond
It is unlikely that the Zelda series will come to a final end with Tears of the Kingdom, as a new game is apparently already in the works. However, it seems that Tears of the Kingdom could serve as the endpoint for the series' three branching timelines, just as Breath of the Wild was confirmed to be. As Skyward Sword marked the beginning of the timeline, it would be fitting for Tears of the Kingdom to bring closure to these branching timelines, tying back to the legacy of the series.
Despite this, there is potential for the series to continue with games set between Skyward Sword and Tears of the Kingdom. This would allow for exploration of the extensive history of Hyrule. Perhaps this is Nintendo's opportunity to fix any mistakes made in Skyward Sword, both small and large, and create a soft reboot for the series. With Tears of the Kingdom potentially starting a new timeline, it could mark a fresh start for the Zelda franchise, free from the constraints of previous speculation about timelines.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.
