Summary
Even after waiting years for it, the impact thatThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomhas made on theZeldafranchise hasn’t been diminished. Things like Ultrahand and the general focus on player expression and physics interactions is certainly one thing, butTears of the Kingdomhas also done a lot forZelda’s storytelling. It plays out like a reinterpretation of common plot beats found throughout past games, with some scenes practically being remade from older entries. The end result could be considered as an alternate take onZelda’s overall lore, and a lot of that revolves around the integration of the Zonai tribe.
Hailing from the skies far above Hyrule, not much is known about the history of the Zonai. Only two living representatives are present inTotK’s plot, with a third implied to be elsewhere. Supposedly, by the time the story reachedRauru and Mineru’s role in the founding of Hyrule, the two siblings were the only known living members of their race. Apart from lore regarding the Zonai’s Secret Stones and some vague speculation that they could be descended from the gods, there aren’t many other details on them right now. However, that also means futureLegend of Zeldagames have plenty of room to do with Zonai as they please.
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Zonai Are Mysterious Enough To Play Any Zelda Role
The Zonai, as they are presented, fit in well with the other known tribes.Tears of the Kingdomalready features the typical Gerudo, Gorons, Sheikah, and Zora, as well as theRito and Koroks fromThe Wind Waker. Zonai are somewhat similar to the Oocca, being a special race mostly confined to the skies, as well as being mystical, history-shaping figures like the Twili and Minish. It’s possible that these animalistic beings may be considered too integral toTears of the Kingdom’s lore to casually reappear, but the notion that more unknown members may live elsewhere can’t be ignored either.
If any otherZeldagame were to take place in the world ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, the Zonai would almost certainly be involved. Whether another member of the species appears as a prominent character, the topic of what the wider race was like feels hard to avoid. Perhaps the greatest thing holding the Zonai back is Nintendo’s reluctance to explore theZeldaworld outside and far above Hyrule, as well as define too much of anyZeldaentry’s setting, cosmology, and history. That may mean players have seen all they will see of the Zonai’s original incarnation, but newZeldagames are known to put fresh spins on old concepts.
Future Zelda Games Could Have Distinct Takes On The Zonai
In a take onThe Legend of Zeldafar removed fromTears of the Kingdom, the Zonai could be a distinct tribe, largely sequestered from the rest of the world. An engineer similar to Mineru could be part of the main cast, though a mage like Rauru would work just as well. Either way, if Nintendo wants to keepfunctions like Ultrahand around inThe Legend of Zelda, a Zonai presence could ensure that it happens.
Other Zonai might occasionally show up, but chances are most of this race will live in its own region, likely airborne, to avoid Zonai feeling like just another Hyrulean tribe. Alternatively, no Zonai could appear in person, but they could become regular figures inZelda’s historical texts. Whether keepers ofZelda’s iconic Triforce or equivalents, servants of the gods, or just an advanced civilization, the Zonai’s lack of definition means they can fill any niche in futureLegend ofZeldatitles.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now on the Nintendo Switch.
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