The Legend of Zelda: Unveiling the Missing Aspect in Tears of the Kingdom - Lessons Learned from Link's Awakening

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a departure from tradition in the Legend of Zelda series, showcasing innovation while still honoring its roots. It builds upon the success of Breath of the Wild by introducing new features and expanding the open world experience. The story seamlessly blends with the setting, enhancing the overall gameplay.

While drawing inspiration from its direct predecessor, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also pays homage to previous entries in the series through outfits, items, and locations. It could have further embraced the visual style seen in Link's Awakening on the Nintendo Switch, utilizing stunning anime-esque cutscenes to differentiate its unique story paths and enhance the game's visuals.

Link’s Awakening’s Anime Cutscenes are Few, but Memorable

The remake of Link's Awakening in 1993 was highly anticipated and well-received, offering a fantastic recreation of a beloved classic. The game's unique and charming toy-like art style during gameplay was both effective and memorable. The gameplay itself was a delightful blend of nostalgia and intuitive mechanics. The music score was a nostalgic blast from the past that still held up beautifully in the modern era.

The opening and closing cutscenes featuring Link at sea were deliberately distinct from the rest of the game's visuals, effectively emphasizing the game's surprising twist. These cutscenes were not only visually stunning, but also held enough appeal to potentially be reused in future adaptations.

One possible alternative approach could have been to employ a more conventional art style to document Link's adventure, while utilizing the gorgeous anime style featured in Link's Awakening to portray Princess Zelda's involvement with Rauru and Sonia. This would have not only allowed for a presentation style that shouldn't be limited to just Link's Awakening, but also created a visual distinction between the two journeys, which occur in different time periods.

Tears of the Kingdom has More Emphasis on Story

Breath of the Wild prioritizes user-generated entertainment, allowing players to experiment with the game's physics and indulge in optional collectibles and explorations in the vast open world. However, this emphasis comes at the expense of storytelling, with important narrative moments being conveyed through scattered memories that require the player's knowledge to find. As a result, the storyline feels fleeting. In contrast, Tears of the Kingdom addresses this issue by providing a more coherent and weighty story that is easier to follow.

Instead of being a retrospective account, Tears of the Kingdom delves into the past, Zelda's present circumstances, and Link's ongoing quest to locate the Princess and thwart Ganondorf's overwhelming threat. While this shift in narrative approach is commendable, it is slightly disappointing that the presentation remains unchanged from Breath of the Wild. It would have been a great opportunity to introduce a different visual style, particularly for certain parts of the story. The stunning anime cutscenes from Link's Awakening could have been utilized in Tears of the Kingdom, enhancing its overall appeal.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available on Nintendo Switch.