The anticipation for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is reaching new heights with the release of its final trailer. Packed with fresh insights into the upcoming Nintendo Switch game, this trailer offers a glimpse into the expansive open world, introduces intriguing characters, and showcases a variety of vehicles for players to utilize. However, amidst the whirlwind of information and the enigmatic mechanics and narrative of Tears of the Kingdom, certain details may have eluded your attention, leaving room for speculation. Let’s delve into five captivating details from the trailer that could potentially impact the gameplay and story of the game.
Link’s Companions
One of the most surprising revelations in the new trailer is the apparent confirmation of a companion system in Tears of the Kingdom. Unlike in Breath of the Wild, where non-playable characters had limited involvement, this latest installment showcases significantly more active NPCs. At around the 1:38 mark, we witness Link engaged in a horseback battle between humans and Ganondorf’s forces. Furthermore, beyond the three-minute mark, we witness an alliance of new characters, including Rito, Humans, Zora, Goron, and Garudo, working together with Link. Notably, the Zora soldier aids Link in a formidable two-on-one encounter. This enhanced companion mechanic elevates the core gameplay systems, underscoring the extensive modifications in Tears of the Kingdom.
Novel Characters and Foes
In addition to companions, Tears of the Kingdom introduces a host of fresh characters. A brief glimpse reveals a young Rito with striking white feathers accompanying Link. However, the most intriguing introduction occurs around the 1:40 mark, where a scarred, dinosaur-like creature captivates our attention with an eerie stare into the camera. Could this enigmatic creature serve as the secondary boss, akin to Zant in Twilight Princess? Moreover, this raises questions about the creature’s affiliation with a particular monster race. Perhaps Dodongos have undergone a remarkable transformation.
The trailer also teases an array of new enemy types, including Guardian-like creatures reminiscent of those encountered in Breath of the Wild. Notable instances include a Guardian-like tech creature engaged in combat with a blue ChuChu at the 20-second mark, another creature relentlessly hacking at a tree, and a colossal golem emerging from a wall around 1:44. These dynamic variants of Breath of the Wild’s guardians possess the ability to interact with the world, presenting an exciting prospect for players.
Shrine Redesign?
While the exact nature of Tears of the Kingdom’s shrines remains mysterious, the trailer offers intriguing glimpses into their potential design. When Link scales a cliffside roughly a minute into the trailer, a glowing green and blue object comes into view from a distance. Although its purpose is uncertain, it is plausible that this object represents Tears of the Kingdom’s equivalent of the Shrine-like challenges present in Breath of the Wild.
Another montage, approximately a minute and a half into the trailer, showcases Link skydiving through laser obstacles, manipulating a spoked wheel to set a building in motion, and skillfully gliding through narrow passages. Each of these moments shares a striking visual aesthetic. Although the precise form of these challenges remains unknown, it is apparent that this vast open world will offer numerous bite-sized trials to test the player’s skills.
Link’s Subaquatic Abilities
Among the myriad of revelations in the trailer, one seemingly minor detail piques curiosity—the potential inclusion of diving mechanics. Unlike in Breath of the Wild, where Link was unable to dive underwater, a shot in the trailer portrays Link fully submerged within a water bubble on a Sky Island. While we do not witness his subsequent movements, this scene, coupled with Link’s new Ascend power, suggests the possibility of underwater exploration in Tears of the Kingdom. If this proves accurate, the already expansive open world would be further enriched by the inclusion of underwater realms. Alternatively, these floating water bubbles may serve as a clever misdirection rather than a one-time obstacle.
The Sinister Return of Blood Moons
The trailer also offers crucial insights into the narrative. Notably, at 1:18, we witness an empowered Ganondorf standing against the backdrop of a foreboding Blood Moon. The same ominous red hue from this lunar phenomenon permeates Ganondorf’s powers, which he employs to summon enemies and corrupt Link’s arm just before the three-minute mark. Fans of Breath of the Wild will recall the Blood Moon as an occasional event that revived all enemies while eliciting peculiar behavior from certain NPCs. Now, it seems that the Blood Moon plays a pivotal role in explaining Ganon’s resurgence following the events of Breath of the Wild. Regardless of its true significance, we eagerly anticipate the unfolding of Tears of the Kingdom’s enthralling story.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to launch on May 12 for the Nintendo Switch.
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