When Nintendo launched the teaser trailer for Breath of the Wild 2 a number of years in the past, it unleashed a whirlwind of rumors and hypothesis a few sequel to top-of-the-line Zelda video games. Fortunately, Nintendo has given us a couple of new glimpses into what we now know shall be referred to as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is now nearing its remaining launch in 2023. As anticipation reaches a brand new excessive, we’ve dug up all the data there’s about our subsequent journey in Hyrule.
Additional studying
Launch date
After a protracted improvement time and years of ready, we now know that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is ready to launch on Might 12, 2023.
Platforms
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will solely be obtainable on Nintendo Swap. Nintendo isn’t eager on porting its high-performing first-party titles to different consoles, and we don’t anticipate that development to vary when Tears is ultimately launched.
Trailers
Nintendo has released three trailers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — a brief reveal trailer, a short gameplay trailer announced during E3, and the latest during a Nintendo Direct in 2022.
The gameplay trailer is particularly interesting, as it shows a variety of new mechanics, including some that look to be borrowed from Skyward Sword.
This latest trailer was still very brief but starts off showing some ancient carvings before revealing Link opening a massive door, rushing out onto a floating platform, and fearlessly diving off. He lands on some sort of flying device before the title is revealed. Originally, Nintendo withheld revealing the official title for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom due to it spoiling aspects of the story. This has led to tons of fan speculation and theory-crafting, such as Ganon’s corpse rising from Hyrule Castle, the return of Malice, and even connections to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
While there’s no consensus on hard details, most agree this will be a much darker game than the first.
Rating
After the initial trailer, there were many fans who speculated that Tears of the Kingdom would take a far darker tone than any prior Zelda game had. However, the game has since been rated by the ESRB, which gives us a good idea of what type of content the game will — and will not — have.
Tears of the Kingdom will be rated E10+, which is quite typical for the series (Breath of the Wild had the same rating), and even lower than the T rating given to Twilight Princess. It was given this rating for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes. This has mostly squashed theories this title would skew further toward a more “adult” oriented title, however, there is certainly a possibility of it still being darker in tone, even if not explicitly with blood and violence.
Majora’s Mask, for example, is considered one of the darkest Zelda games and was given an E rating upon initial release.
Gameplay
While there’s a lot we don’t know about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom‘s gameplay, we’re pretty confident that players will be returning to the Hyrule seen in the original Breath of the Wild. Eiji Aonuma said that he would love to visit the world again and introduce new gameplay concepts alongside a new story. He later went on to say that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will indeed be a “continuation” of the original, that means we must always anticipate to see extra of the Hyrule we’ve come to know and love over the previous few years.
The 2023 E3 trailer confirmed a lot of that assertion — though we now have a bunch of floating islands within the sky we’ll be capable to discover. It’s unclear if these areas shall be simply accessible whereas roaming round on the bottom or in the event that they’ll be set in a totally totally different timeline — just like the younger and grownup Hyperlink variants seen in Ocarina of Time.
One factor everybody picked up from the reveal trailer is the truth that this entry is trying to be a a lot darker journey than its predecessor. Aonuma went on to substantiate this, saying the entry shall be just like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Masks in tone — simply the darkest and most annoying recreation within the collection. How precisely that can play out is unknown. Nonetheless, it’s been confirmed that it will not tie into Majora’s Mask in any approach. It may be going for the same aesthetic, however that doesn’t imply any story parts from the hit Nintendo 64 title will make an look.
Apparently, the driving issue for making a Breath of the Wild sequel got here from the event staff conjuring up too many DLC concepts. Whereas DLC works so as to add small modifications to a recreation — it primarily capabilities as an enlargement — you’re typically restricted to the prevailing construction of the title. Aonuma mentioned that the staff had some huge modifications they needed to implement, however they couldn’t do this using DLC. As time went on and extra concepts started percolating, it turned clear {that a} new recreation was the one option to make these a actuality.
As quickly because the trailer was revealed at E3 2019, the web exploded with rumors and hypothesis. Not all of it’s dependable, however we’ve compiled a listing of probably the most sensible rumblings. Nintendo hasn’t commented both approach concerning the following claims, so it’s doable that a few of these nice concepts may make it into the ultimate product:
- The reveal trailer reveals Hyperlink and Zelda exploring some form of underground chamber, however Zelda appears markedly totally different than we keep in mind. Her hair has been lower quick into a kind of bob, and followers are speculating that’s as a result of she shall be a playable character. Shorter hair has much less of an opportunity of clipping into different objects and makes it simpler to drag off a clear look with none janky animation. We’re undecided how possible that is — however we will’t deny it will be nice to run round Hyrule as somebody apart from Hyperlink.
- Watching Hyperlink and Zelda collectively within the reveal trailer gave some followers the impression that this may be a co-op title. Aonuma was requested about this chance and didn’t give a direct reply. Whereas it most likely gained’t be the driving drive of the sport, we’re hopeful that you simply’ll be capable to accomplice up with a pal this time round.
- A number of cave work appear to reference a time earlier than the Calamity occurred. Does this imply the title may very well be a prequel to the unique?
- Conventional dungeons may make a return. Since gamers are already conversant in the map of Hyrule, it is smart that new areas should be underground or indoors.
- Ganondorf is the more than likely villain, as he suits the looks of the slumped-over corpse seen within the trailer. Some are additionally speculating that Zant, one of many antagonists of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, may also make a return, however there isn’t a lot proof to again up this declare.
As for the E3 2021 gameplay trailer, we noticed Hyperlink with a couple of new tips — reminiscent of the flexibility to teleport via strong objects and a lethal new gauntlet — and it confirmed that a lot of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gained’t stray too removed from the unique title. Hypothesis is already swirling about how Hyperlink, Zelda, and Ganon all match into the image, however for now, it’s only a bunch of fan theories, no matter how intriguing they could be. Till Nintendo provides us some extra concrete particulars, we’ll depart the guesswork as much as web sleuths.
The most recent 2022 trailer reveals off new methods to work together with objects to boost instantly up into the sky environments by rewinding time.
Multiplayer
The sport is rumored to incorporate co-op — however that’s solely as a result of followers noticed Hyperlink and Zelda exploring collectively within the reveal trailer. Nothing is official but, though providing co-op can be an enormous change when in comparison with Breath of the Wild.
Preorder
It’s nonetheless a great distance off, however you’ll be able to preorder The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Amazon and .
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