Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis a fantastically crafted game, building off the solid foundations laid by its predecessor through inventive new mechanics, a more creative narrative, and a considerably larger map to explore. However, the game was also criticized for being too similar toBreath of the Wildin many key areas, and while this is a matter of some debate, it’s certainly true thatThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomdoes share the same look and feel of the game that preceded it.
Indeed, while most would admit thatTears of the Kingdomis an improvementoverBreath of the Wild, some felt a bit let down by the overall feeling of similarity between the two, especially when it comes to general structure and tone. In the case of the latter facet, there was some speculation thatTOTKwould be a darker and more mature take on theZeldaformat, and this turned out not to be the case, as the game’s narrative and themes remain just as family-friendly and digestible as they were inBOTW. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the nextZeldagame may benefit from being a bit more adult, embracing more complex and challenging ideas.
It Might Be Time for a Darker Zelda Game
The Next Zelda Game Should Offer a Unique Experience
Nintendo has already confirmed that thenextZeldagame will do something different, leaving behind the open-world exploration ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom. Assuming Nintendo continues the trend of excellence for the franchise, this should be a smart move, as it will mean the beginning of a new chapter; the bold design decisions ofTOTKnever would have happened if not for the bold direction the series took withBOTW, which took major creative leaps.
With the next game aiming to stand out and carve out its own identity, a darker and more mature tone and story may be appropriate.
The nextZeldagame could commit to a darker era, presenting a narrative that doesn’t shy away from serious subject matter, and perhaps even including an ending that doesn’t see everything wrapped up nicely. This could also be an opportunity forThe Legend of Zeldato feature a more cinematic and involved narrative, as the plot has usually taken a back seat to grander themes and conflicts in the series' past. A newZeldagame shouldn’t be grim and disturbing—that simply isn’t what the series excels at—but there is definitely room for a less safe, all-ages narrative and tone.
The Legend of Zelda Hasn’t Been Afraid of the Dark in the Past
Zeldahas tackled dark storiesin the past, with some of the franchise’s most beloved entries including unsettling or outright horrific narrative elements. Perhaps the most popular example of a matureZeldagame isMajora’s Mask, a story about a world in decline, facing a terrifying end. Ultimately, Link saves the day, but his journey isn’t without ardor as he is forced to transform into unfamiliar and inhuman forms, which are presented in a rather unsettling way. The franchise revisited themes of deterioration and the loss of humanity in the decidedly realistically styledTwilight Princessas well.
It’s been quite a while sinceTwilight Princess, though, and theZeldafranchise might be ready to delve back into the world of darkness. This could mean a more mature storyline, greater and more nuanced narrative stakes, or just a more realisticart style similar toTwilight Princess', leveraging the power of more advanced hardware. Either way, this design philosophy could makeThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s successor a truly unique and unforgettable entry in the franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
