There are many interesting and unique breeds found throughout The Legend of Zeldaand one of them is probably late to reappear. There is an unfortunate tendency to Zelda games to keep many of their more unusual races confined to a single title, with the amount of major recurring races (like Zora and Gorons) actually being in the minority. However, there is always a chance these races could return, and one race in particular deserves such an opportunity more than most.
The races in The Legend of Zelda they enjoy a wide range of creative designs, which are often strongly linked to their native environment. But although the success of recent games like Breath of Nature and Tears of the Kingdom ensured that some of these races were widely recognized, there are also many lesser-known and unique races found throughout the franchise’s history. Of course, there can be countless reasons why a particular breed is cut from a new breed. Zelda game after it’s established, but the disappearance of some races is arguably more disappointing than others.
Zelda’s Minish Race is one of the best
The Minish should return in a future Zelda title
The titular breed of The Minish cap it’s interestingwith a curious contribution to the tradition of the franchise. Tiny Minish have the unusual peculiarity of being invisible to most, and only children are able to notice them. Additionally, they are also responsible for hiding small items throughout Hyrule, thus explaining why Link is able to find rupees, hearts, and other items simply by breaking pots and cutting the tall grass around him. Considering how often Link benefits from this, the Minish are arguably one of the biggest contributors to Hyrule’s survival.
The central shrinkage mechanics for The Minish cap it’s also one of Link’s most memorable transformations, providing a whole new perspective on Hyrule. The Minish are able to live practically anywhere in Hyrule, and Link is able to interact with them by shrinking their size. The mechanic was never seen again, something that is not unusual for the constantly evolving world Zelda franchise, but which nevertheless continues to have great potential. A version of this shrinking would undoubtedly accompany any new Minish appearance, with all the implications that entails for gameplay.
With all this in mind, it is disappointing that the Minish themselves have never appeared in another Zelda title. While the continued appearance of items hidden in grass and pots can be used to explain their continued presence, ultimately this feature is simply a matter of convenience for players and has been a part of the franchise long before Minish. Furthermore, The Minish cap it seems unlikely that it will be remastered like some other Zelda the titles were, although they are still playable on the Switch via Nintendo Switch Online.
The Minish have been missing for some time
A planned inclusion in BOTW was finally cut
This and other ports of The Minish cap aside, however, the Minish were absent from the franchise for almost 20 years now. The Minish cap was originally released in 2005 (or 2004 in Japan), and its titular race has largely disappeared since then. However, this absence can always be reversed in future installments of the Zelda franchise. In fact, Minish have already come close to making a comeback on at least one occasion, in the hugely successful Breath of Nature nothing less.
Although the Minish were not explicitly referred to by name at the time, it was revealed that BOTH almost featured miniature NPCs living in suitably tiny houses all over Hyruleas well as an ever-decreasing mechanic that would have allowed Link to talk to them. Of course, it is immediately evident that these characters would have been a modern version of Minish. This, in turn, proves that Minish still maintains a strong presence in the minds of developers, which paints its future in a positive light.
It is worth noting that the Minish would not have been excluded from the Breath of Nature due to any technical limitations.
It is worth noting that the Minish would not have been excluded from the Breath of Nature due to any technical limitations. Instead, it was simply decided that they would have been kicked out of the already well-populated Hyrule that was taking shape in development. However, nothing prevents a more self-focused game from taking shape in the future. Furthermore, as the shrinking functionality itself seems to have been viable in its own right, it’s entirely viable for it to be recycled for a future game.
What a New Minish-Focused Zelda Game Could Do
Kinstones and Shrinking are perfect for an open world title
A new open world Zelda the game designed to revolve around Minish and ever-decreasing mechanics would be full of exciting new possibilities. Giving Link the ability to freely change his size in an open-world environment would allow for an exciting new range of exploration options.such as allowing it to enter otherwise inaccessible areas through small holes and cracks. Meanwhile, the possibilities for size-changing puzzles range from being as simple as shrinking to fit through a set of bars, or as complex as altering the internal mechanisms of some form of machine.
The reintroduction of Minish may also include the return of Kinstone Fusingwhich would provide an additional incentive to explore as much of Hyrule as possible. In The Minish capFinding and merging Kinstones offers rewards ranging from simple treasures to hidden areas being unlocked, as well as the possibility of activating new side quests. It would be very easy to see this being carried over and expanded upon in a modern game, especially with a much larger world that offers plenty of room for such secrets.
The Minish are an interesting race deeply tied to unique mechanics, and as such have a lot to offer any new Zelda game. The gameplay possibilities offered by Link’s shrinking are almost endless, especially in an open world game like Breath of Nature. Of course, The Legend of Zelda is far from averse to the reintroduction of new races, and the Minish are ideal candidates for such treatment in a future title. It would be a shame if they were never seen again, especially after the development of previous games has already laid the groundwork for bringing them into the modern era.