There is no such thing as a doubt the quantity of strain that was positioned on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom earlier than its launch. The wealth of imaginative and revolutionary concepts launched by Breath of Nature resulted within the sport reaching a revolutionary standing that was arduous to observe. Fortunately, TOTK managed to face out, just by taking the concepts of BOTH and increasing them to a a lot increased degree.
One facet by which TOTK tried to surpass its predecessor is with its historical past. From the opening moments of the sport, TOTK gives an thrilling, charming and action-packed journey that contrasts sharply with the extra subdued method taken by BOTH. Nonetheless, in its try and create a extra bold narrative, TOTK makes an important determination that forestalls the story from reaching its full potential.
Does TOTK really feel like a whole sequel?
The sport typically doesn't acknowledge earlier occasions
On a really superficial degree, there are various methods by which it turns into clear to gamers that TOTK is a direct sequence of BOTH. Not solely does TOTK makes use of the identical engine as its predecessor, however makes use of the very same model of Hyrule seen in BOTHincreasing the world with the introduction of Sky and Deep Islands. Moreover, TOTK additionally makes use of lots of the similar mechanics, akin to weapon sturdiness, whereas additionally adopting BOTHnon-linear construction, permitting gamers to embark on the journey at their very own tempo.
Nonetheless, it's when the participant advances within the story that TOTK tries to separate itself from its predecessor. Whereas TOTK sees the return of many beloved characters first launched in BOTHthe sport typically refuses to acknowledge the occasions of that sport, regardless of the Calamity enjoying an important position in creating the decimated kingdom the participant traverses. Moreover, TOTK makes main modifications to his overworld to accommodate this determinationeradicating many of the Sheikah constructions that occupy the world, from towers to highly effective Divine Beasts.
TOTKthe choice to disregard BOTHthe narrative itself is complicated, to say the least. The sport is usually in battle with its sense of identification, randomly adopting some facets of BOTHThe movie's world and characters, whereas blatantly disregarding the defining occasions and moments that made it so particular. It's an journey that, whereas definitely thrilling and action-packed, may really feel disjointed and unusual because it ignores the necessary context established in BOTH.
Direct Zelda sequels have had related issues
Majora's Masks felt extra like a standalone journey
TOTK shouldn't be the one one Zelda title that confronted this downside. The collection had quite a few “straight” sequels that struggled with its connections to its predecessor whereas additionally establishing an identification of its personal. Probably the most well-known instance of this is able to be Majora's Masks that, regardless of immediately following the occasions of Ocarina of Timemakes little reference to its occasions and as a substitute heads in a distinct course.
The primary distinction between this sport and TOTK it's like Majora's Masks goes a lot additional in constructing your personal identificationbenefiting the title typically. Though you should use Ocarina of Timeengine and property, Majora's Masks is ready in a distinct world, with an virtually fully new solid of characters, whereas adapting a darker, extra harrowing tone to its predecessor. From the start, Majora's Masks makes it clear to the viewers that, though it could borrow components from Ocarina of TimeThe sport is an impartial journey and divulges its personal identification.
Compared, TOTKthe reuse of BOTHthe characters and setting lead to a narrative that seems like wasted potential. Not often in Zelda collection are gamers capable of revisit the identical world and characters from a earlier title. This granted TOTK the chance to develop on the themes and messages its predecessor established and take its personal story in an attention-grabbing course. But, TOTK treats the connection along with his predecessor extra as an anchor than a software, and his makes an attempt to distance himself BOTHThe narrative prevents the story from being as bold because it may have been.
How TOTK may have felt extra BOTW
The sport would have benefited from extra connections to BOTW
There are various methods by which TOTK may have used BOTHnarrative to raise your personal story, particularly with regards to character improvement. For instance, Princess Zelda's journey to satisfy her future and turn out to be a robust chief for her kingdom was a decisive a part of BOTHthe story that TOTK failed to essentially construct on. Though she proves to be a beneficial advisor throughout her time trapped prior to now, Zelda by no means manages to point out her management or company, losing a possibility to TOTK construct on what BOTH established.
With the sport utilizing the identical world and mechanics as BOTHoffered a threat of TOTK turning into a mere retread and never a step ahead in the direction of the Zelda collection.
Moreover, TOTK may have used BOTH as some extent of comparability to make the sport's antagonist an much more intimidating risk. The destruction brought on by The Upheaval at first of the sport would have been a good way to elucidate the absence of the Divine Beasts, having been demolished within the chaos that adopted. This not solely offers the mandatory context that TOTK was in brief provide, however destroying the weapons that have been essential to defeating Calamity Ganon would have clearly demonstrated to gamers the a lot better risk Ganondorf posed to Hyrule.
It's comprehensible that Nintendo would wish to discover methods to separate TOTK of its predecessor. With the sport utilizing the identical world and mechanics as BOTHoffered a threat of TOTK turning into a mere retread and never a step ahead in the direction of the Zelda collection. That being mentioned, Tears of the KingdomThe preliminary premise of BOTH The sequel gave the sport the chance to make the most of its predecessor to create its personal bold narrative. His refusal to take action ends in a usually entertaining story that merely loses all of its potential.