Unlocking the Hidden Secrets: Why a Nostalgic Journey Back to Zelda's Roots is Long Overdue

Highlights

The upcoming installment of The Legend of Zelda franchise strives to deliver an unparalleled gaming adventure, immersing loyal fans in an entirely fresh encounter that delves into an era of the intricate Zelda timeline that has yet to be fully explored.

Returning to an earlier era in the official Zelda timeline has the potential to seamlessly combine classic and modern gameplay mechanics, satisfying both long-time and new Zelda enthusiasts. The official timelines of The Legend of Zelda hold countless opportunities for captivating narratives, whether it's exploring uncharted territories in the lore or even revitalizing past games while eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new mainline installment.

The future of The Legend of Zelda is now wide open, with series producer Eiji Aonuma aiming to provide fans with a completely new experience in the next entry. Whether this means the conclusion to a trilogy that started with Breath of the Wild is uncertain. The franchise's rich legacy offers numerous potential paths for its next iteration, including a return to an earlier era in the complex Zelda timelines.

Following the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and the publication of the Hyrule Historia lore compendium, fans have a clear understanding of how each game in the series is connected after the significant events in Skyward Sword. However, it remains unclear where Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Theories of the Kingdom stand in the timeline. Speculation arises on whether these games have their own original chronology or if the "Age of Calamity" occurs after the merging of Ocarina of Time's branching timelines into a single continuity. With limitless possibilities for the franchise's future, there is a strong argument for a new Zelda entry that takes players back to a previously explored era.

A Return to Zelda's Previous Eras Could Mix Both Old and New Mechanics

Breath of the Wild marked a significant turning point for The Legend of Zelda franchise. Despite the importance of Skyward Sword to the series narrative, its disappointing sales prompted the need for a course correction. Nintendo's experimentation paid off, as Breath of the Wild's sales surpassed those of all other 3D Zelda games combined. However, some loyal fans expressed frustration with the absence of traditional dungeons and the inclusion of breakable weapons. These concerns have been partially addressed in this year's release, Tears of the Kingdom.

By revisiting an earlier era in the official Zelda timeline, the team has found an opportunity to further refine the "best of both worlds" approach introduced in Tears of the Kingdom. This involves creatively blending the classic 3D Zelda formula from games like Ocarina of Time with the newer mechanics and freedom seen in the open-world Zelda titles on the Switch. This approach has the potential to unite old and new fans of the series, providing a fertile ground for the merging of classic and modern Zelda gameplay.

The Legend of Zelda's Earlier Timelines Still Have Plenty of Unexplored Territory

The Legend of Zelda's official timelines offer abundant potential for untold and captivating stories in the series, regardless of the next game's form. Exploring the gaps between Hyrule's "Golden Era" and the "Era of Decline" leading to the original Legend of Zelda, or embarking on an adventure following Twilight Princess, could provide answers to lingering lore questions. Additionally, a remake of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, often considered the series' "black sheep," may be an ideal candidate given the limitations of technology during its initial release. Nintendo's recent success in remaking Link's Awakening in 2019 further supports the notion that a remake from an earlier era could serve as a satisfying interim experience for fans eagerly awaiting the next mainline entry in the Zelda franchise.