Summary
The Legend of Zeldafranchise has long been a pioneer in the realm of gaming. From the original title’s release in 1986 to 2023’sThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,Nintendo’s legendary series has introduced some of gaming’s most profound, boundary-pushing, and controversial leaps in gameplay innovations. However, recent titles have steadily shifted toward a new focus, which has long been absent fromtheZeldafranchise. While gameplay has long taken the spotlight during players' adventures in Hyrule,Tears of the Kingdomsets theZeldaseries up for one tonal shift.
The Legend of Zeldafranchise is a collection of adventures that take place across various eras and timelines in the Kingdom of Hyrule. These adventures follow a fresh iteration of a mythical hero, Link, as he searches for, rescues, or assists that period’s Princess Zelda in thwarting a malevolent evil. While this classic set-up has long formed the backbone ofZelda’s narratives, exploration, combat, and game design have long been the series’ main draw. However, the interconnected nature ofTears of the Kingdomand its predecessor,Breath of the Wild, have set the stage for a shift toward deeper and more meaningful narratives.
The Modern Zelda Franchise is Known for its Gameplay Innovations
SinceThe Legend of Zelda’s earliest days, nearly every entry has raised the bar for what can be accomplished in video game design. This trend skyrocketed afterthe series’ jump to 3D exploration inOcarina of Time, which introduced players to a host of new and updated mechanics, including multi-level dungeon puzzles, environment manipulation, time manipulation, and context-sensitive buttons. Each subsequent release pushed the boundaries even further, introducing features such as sea traversal, transformations, flying mounts, and multiple landscapes or maps. However, the series’ biggest leap arrived with the release of 2017’sThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Breath of the WildbroughtThe Legend of Zeldafranchise into the modern age, thrusting Link into a sprawling open-world adventure rife with modern gameplay features and exploration mechanics. Players could equip Link with a host of weapons, shields, and armor, changing his stats and taking advantage ofHyrule’s various environments. Combat itself was tailored towards a more modern feel, with the title introducing perfect dodges, flurry rushes, perfect blocks, and more.Breath of the Wild’s narrative was non-linear, with players exploring various areas to prepare Link for his assault on Hyrule Castle, learning more about the past and present along the way. However, those brave enough to head straight for the castle could do so, taking on Ganon as soon as they were ready. The title’s sequel,Tears of the Kingdom, followed this trend, introducing Zonai devices, but the title’s groundbreaking addition came in the form of its storytelling.
Tears of the Kingdom Proves It’s Time for a Change in Focus
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomsucceeded in delivering a complex action-adventure in line with its predecessor, but one area it surpassed all others in was its complex characters.Tears of the Kingdomfeatured some of the most essential character work that theZeldafranchise has ever seen, particularly for Zelda herself. WhereaspreviousZeldatitles featured a few complex characters, often Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf,Tears of the Kingdomspent considerable time exploring the lives and motivations of the Sages, the Zonai, and the original Ganondorf, before introducing a plan to ultimately defeat him centuries in the making. WhileTears of the Kingdomproved itself a capable and modern action-adventure title, it more outrightly proved that the series is ready for a shift in tone.
Following decades of gameplay innovations,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomsets the stage for a shift toward more story-driven entries, moving forward. While fun and interesting mechanics will always be a part of theZeldafranchise, the time has come for a shift in tone. FutureZeldatitles are ready to explore more mature and complex narratives, building on the profound character work fromTears of the Kingdom. According to recent rumors, Nintendo may already be preparing the first entry in a more story-drivenZeldaseries, as May 2024 sawrumors of a Zelda-led titlebeing in development. While these rumors remain unsubstantiated, fans eager to learn more should keep an eye on this Summer’s gaming presentations and Nintendo Directs, as the nextThe Legend of Zeldaentry may make a surprise appearance.
