Warning: The following text contains major spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Proceed at your own risk.
A significant number of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom players are still immersed in the vast open world of the game. As the biggest Nintendo Switch release of 2023 thus far, the game has rekindled the love fans have for Breath of the Wild, while also introducing fresh elements that enhance the sequel's appeal. One standout feature is Link's new arm powers, which allow players to unleash their creativity in unprecedented ways, leading to the discovery of solutions and creations that were previously unimaginable within the realm of Zelda games.
Tears of the Kingdom May Have Wiped The Slate Too Clean
: The core essence of Tears of the Kingdom lies in Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Recall. While the addition of new dungeons, blending the traditional Zelda dungeons with BotW's Divine Beasts, and the revamped map featuring sky and underground layers offer exciting experiences, these elements cannot match the significance of these abilities. In the realm of TotK and its precursor, no other feature encapsulates the essence of modern Zelda's emphasis on unrestricted exploration quite like these versatile tools. Their only drawback is not their inherent capabilities, but rather the concern over their potential absence in future Zelda games and the implications that may follow.
Throughout the final battle against Ganondorf, players retain their four primary arm abilities. However, the conclusion takes an unexpected twist when all phases of the Demon King are vanquished. Abruptly, Zelda returns to her original form as a Light Dragon, and Link's right arm is miraculously restored. This culminates in a breathtaking sequence reminiscent of Link's tender moment with Zelda in the prologue of Tears of the Kingdom. Nevertheless, this turn of events also introduces some unsettling implications.
In its rush to revert back to the way things were, Nintendo may have prematurely stripped Link of his powers. By the time the cutscene concludes and Rauru and Sonia's spirits have moved on, Link is left without the means to access their abilities, effectively rendering his arm powers permanently locked away. This includes his exceptional proficiency in constructing and operating Zonai machinery, which played a pivotal role in Tears of the Kingdom. Essentially, the intricacies of the game mechanics that defined Tears of the Kingdom have been discarded by the narrative, potentially giving rise to significant complications should there be future sequels or unrelated Zelda titles.
Zelda Has No Easy Way Of Recapturing TotK's Ultrahand
Ultrahand's revolutionary gameplay mechanics have been likened to those found in Garry's Mod and Minecraft, ushering in a new era of player expression within the Zelda universe. With its remarkable versatility and flawless programming, Ultrahand offered an unparalleled sandbox experience that thrived within a vast game ecosystem. However, as we eagerly await the launch of Tears of the Kingdom, one cannot help but wonder how future Zelda games will strive to surpass this achievement. It seems highly unlikely that another Zelda installment set in Breath of the Wild's Hyrule will emerge, especially considering the absence of any unexplored territories or opportunities for Link to shape his adventures using the innovative Ultrahand.
The next major Zelda title faces a difficult situation. It can either choose to follow Tears of the Kingdom's lead and remove mechanics like Ultrahand, forging its own path, or it must find ways to incorporate them in new forms. The latter option would appear forced and hint at the limits of player expression in the Zelda series. While it is premature to underestimate Nintendo's creative prowess, fans cannot truly gauge how the Zelda series will measure up to Tears of the Kingdom's impressive engineering achievements until another title is released several years from now.
Now, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is currently available on Nintendo Switch.
