Despite being set in a classic fantasy world The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is also, without a doubt, a post-apocalyptic game. BOTH It shares many design elements with other post-apocalyptic titles, which combine to make it a perfect example of how the genre works. These details include several different aspects of worldbuilding, from the people who populate Hyrule to the environment itself, and together they paint an undeniable picture of the iconic fictional kingdom existing in the wake of total disaster.
Given that the settings of most popular post-apocalyptic video games are rooted in science fiction to explain their backstory, the malevolent magic at the heart of the Calamity in BOTH it is undoubtedly a deviation from the norm. However, just as Calamity Ganon is one of the more unusual yet effective versions of Ganon, this understated genre shift suits the game's incredible scope. Although BOTH doesn't directly announce itself as a post-apocalyptic story, the events of Calamity undeniably constitute one, and these are the most prominent details that prove it.
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Survivors are scattered across the land
The people of Hyrule are few and far between
It's no secret that BOTH'Hyrule's version is a shadow of its former self. After being attacked by Calamity Ganon a century earlier, the kingdom's people now cling to survival in small settlements. Although everyday life often seems peaceful in the remaining cities and villages, there is no denying that danger constantly lurks on the horizon with the monsters that roam the land.
As you would expect from a post-apocalyptic landscape, the various small communities that can be found in Hyrule are almost completely isolated from each other. Although some NPCs face the roads, mainly treasure hunters and traders, it is common to see them being attacked by monsters. It's entirely possible to see these NPCs falling unconscious, showing how easily they could be killed without Link's intervention. As a result, it is subtly demonstrated that the land is simply too dangerous for many people to explore.
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Most of Hyrule is a vast desert
Nature has recovered much of fallen civilization
Of course, Hyrule itself is mostly wilderness. The size of BOTHThe map of Hyrule emphasizes this, with the inhabited parts of Hyrule being overshadowed by the wild nature around it. However, it is equally clear that this was not always the case; the history of the Calamity makes it clear that countless people died during the attack and their houses were destroyed. With no one left to rebuild the country, much of it was later reverted to nature.
The effects of the Calamity in this sense are quite typical of any apocalyptic scenario. With the inhabitants of a landscape devastated beyond their ability to easily recover, nature has reclaimed much of what was once civilized land. Of course, other post-apocalyptic narratives could easily see the world as barely capable of supporting any life, but that's not a necessity for the genre.
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A once-thriving civilization lies in ruins
The remains of buildings are common sights
Even though Hyrule is mostly covered in vegetation outside of its last few cities and towns, it's easy to see the crumbling remains of the locations Calamity Ganon destroyed. This includes iconic franchise settings like Lon Lon Ranch and Castle Town, but many other unique villages and structures from BOTH are presented as destroyed ruins. As a result, the more a person explores Hyrule, the more signs of destruction they inevitably discover.
The fact that Link can find so many ruins along his journey perfectly demonstrates how much bigger Hyrule once was. Many villages, outposts, and the like are now simply piles of rubble, which Link can scavenge for some remaining resources hidden in treasure chests. BOTHHyrule may be beautiful on the surface, but a closer examination shows that it is filled with remnants of death and destruction.
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The environmental narrative explains the fall of Hyrule
It's easy to see how the guardians destroyed everything
The ruins found in Hyrule are far from randomand tell much of the story of the Calamity without the need for NPCs to provide exposition. For example, the remains of dead Guardians are almost as common as the ruins of buildings, and it is not uncommon to see one still among the remains of a building that has clearly been destroyed. It is made abundantly clear that after Calamity Ganon corrupted the Guardians, they invaded the Realm indiscriminately, though many were destroyed in turn.
Of course, there are other objects of interest that also discreetly reveal the state of Hyrule and how the Calamity has affected it. For example, the rotting and ruined carriages found on roadsides show that travelers were often dominated by dark forces. Notably, the traders they encounter in the game travel with much lighter loads on their mounts, suggesting that speed was and is a necessary element to survive on any journey.
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Hyrule's Past Glory Is Anything But Legend
Very few people remember the Kingdom as it used to be
The weight of time itself is also evident in BOTHwith the majority of the kingdom's current inhabitants knowing no other way of life. Few characters in BOTH were alive before the Calamityand with the destruction of Hyrule in general, it's easy to see how much of the culture that existed was destroyed. Rumors and stories related to the kingdom's past abound in BOTHbut this only places a certain degree of separation between the past and the present.
While a century may not be that long historically speaking, especially considering that several of Hyrule's races have longer lifespans compared to humans, much of what Hyrule was has already been lost. Generations came and went, and most survivors have no experience of the better world that ever was. This is a common theme in many strong post-apocalyptic game narratives; the world has changed, perhaps irrevocably by a devastating event, and only ruins and stories remain of what once existed.
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Infected Guardians Summon a Robotic Apocalypse
His corruption into an evil army is a typical plot
There are many different types of apocalypse that have been explored in fiction, but the Guardians' attack is extremely reminiscent of a typical robot apocalypse. Calamity Ganon's power over the Guardians can be seen as a kind of viruswhich caused the awesome machines to turn against their creators and operators with devastating effects. Given that the Guardians' attack is one of the significant parts of the Calamity, this makes the game's story both science fiction and fantasy.
In other games concerned with a world that has undergone a robotic apocalypse, it's not uncommon to see the machines responsible still posing a threat to the world. Again, the way BOTH uses the Guardians in the same way and fits perfectly with the conventions of the post-apocalypse genre. They are some of the most powerful threats Link can face as he explores Hyrule, the remains of a corrupted mechanical army that played a key role in the kingdom's destruction.
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Divine beasts are ancient super weapons
They are technological masterpieces capable of mass destruction
Similar to the Guardians, BOTHThe four Divine Beasts of Hyrule invoke a more technological aspect to Hyrule than what is commonly associated with The Legend of Zelda. As they are undoubtedly the greatest creations of the ancient Sheikah, mechanical animals are incredibly powerful war machines capable of turning the tide against Calamity Ganon. Although the Blights that attacked them were unable to pilot them against Hyrule during the Calamity, their inaction alone was a terrible blow to the kingdom.
In more general terms, though, Divine Beasts can also be described as ancient superweapons, built with technology that most people in modern Hyrule don't understand. These superweapons could be the key to putting an end to the apocalyptic threat facing Hyrule once again, but at the start of the game they are also in a position to further its effects. When Link awakens from his slumber, each Divine Beast also activates, threatening to further destroy Hyrule unless they are stopped.
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The Yiga are a doomsday cult
His goal of killing Link would doom Hyrule
The Yiga Clan is extremely loyal to Calamity Ganon and is dedicated to serving him, thus contributing to his attempt to destroy the Kingdom of Hyrule. As such, they are effectively a doomsday cult, with Ganon playing the role of their destructive god. This is what leads them to become a constant thorn in Link's side throughout his quest; they intend to kill him so that Calamity Ganon can emerge unopposed after Zelda's strength finally fails.
Of course, how Age of Calamity demonstrates, tthe Yiga are as threatened by Ganon as any other group in Hyrulethough their hatred for the kingdom often blinds them to it. After all, the potential apocalypse is something they really want to achieve. Regardless, in BOTHthey show that not everyone in Hyrule opposes its end and acts accordingly.
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Technology is rare but fundamental
Sheikah Tech is what allows Link to overcome countless obstacles
Ancient Sheikah Technology is as rare as it is crucial to Hyrule's survival in Breath of Nature. The usefulness of the Sheikah Slate is the prime example of this, but Shrines and Towers are equally important. This mirrors many other post-apocalypse scenarios, in which any form of advanced technology typically represents a powerful advantage. about others. Of course, Sheikah Tech is a little unusual because it also predates BOTH's Calamity by a significant margin rather than being entirely contemporary, but the end result is effectively the same.
Purah and Robbie's work proves that advanced technology isn't entirely a thing of the past, as they can upgrade the Sheikah Slate and provide Link with weapons and armor, respectively. However, it is notable that they need materials to achieve this, parts that were harvested from the Guardians. Disposal technology like this is one way it is often justified in post-apocalypse scenarios, allowing it to be used while also establishing that the ability to manufacture these parts is still lost to time.
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Link gives Hyrule hope to rebuild
Hyrule's hero helps him overcome his destructive past
Post-apocalypses can be bleak landscapes, but the endings of many games still offer a glimmer of hope to the inhabitants. The end of Breath of Nature does just that, setting Hyrule up to work to finally recover from Calamity Ganon's impact and its monsters. This is perhaps best exemplified by Link's role in the founding of Tarrey Town; Without him, it is doubtful that Hudson would ever have been able to create the new settlement.
All over The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildLink plays the role of post-apocalyptic protagonist well; He explores the destroyed kingdom and aids its inhabitants, fights malevolent machines and evil cultists, and builds to face Calamity Ganon with the help of ancient technology. By the end of the game, assuming people direct him towards completing side quests as well, he also undoubtedly helps the people of Hyrule in many ways that offer them a better future.