Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Trailer Breakdown – Theories And Speculation

Over the vacations we’re republishing some selection options from the final 12 months. A mixture of speaking factors, interviews, opinion items and extra from NL employees and contributors, you may discover our standard mix of thoughtfulness, experience, frivolity, retro nostalgia, and — after all — enthusiasm for all issues Nintendo. Completely happy holidays!

We have lastly came upon the title of Breath of the Wild 2 (which suggests we are able to cease calling it Breath of the Wild 2) alongside a brand-new trailer within the newest Nintendo Direct — and it is referred to as Tears of the Kingdom, which has already set off a ton of theories.

what meaning, Zelda followers — it is time to put our hypothesis hats on as soon as extra, and get to dissecting this trailer for each wee nugget of Zelda lore we are able to discover.

We cannot lie right here — the trailer did not have a lot occurring. That is going to be difficult. However however, we will persevere! There needs to be one thing juicy in that footage, proper?

Additionally, be certain that to flick through your early pre-order choices for the sport, and take a look at our information compiling all the data about TOTK that we’ve thus far:

Tears of the Kingdom: Trailer Breakdown

Owl Lad

It is fairly secure to say at this level that birds and flying are two of the themes of Tears of the Kingdom. The very first shot of the trailer is what appears like an owl. Now, we all know that owls are essential in Zelda lore — Kaepora Gaebora being crucial one, and his owl-like Skyward Sword ancestor Headmaster Gaebora, who’s Zelda’s dad within the occasions earlier than Zelda is even a Princess.

Can we inform something about this birdperson from the trailer? Oh sure. Oh sure we are able to. Extra on that later. However for now, let’s simply say that whoever they’re, they appear essential — they’re wearing loads of fancy regalia, maybe of a royal, a god, or another essential function.

And… it will seem that they’ve Sheikah markings on their face. Truthfully, who is aware of what meaning at this level. We’re not even certain Nintendo absolutely is aware of what the Sheikah are any extra… however in Breath of the Wild, the Sheikah are an historical mystical race whose expertise is buried below Hyrule, able to awaken for the chosen hero (that is you). So, this owl lad (if he’s Sheikah, and he isn’t simply acquired cool eyelashes) is from the previous. Bought it.

(Some persons are saying that Owl Lad is a girl. Truthfully, it is exhausting to inform both means.)

Moblins, Bokoblins, And Malice (oh my!)

Our subsequent shot is what appears like a stone carving of a warfare between your normal Zelda enemies — Bokoblins and Moblins — accompanied by a spreading swirl of Malice, the recent pink evil goo from BOTW which represents Ganon’s growing energy over the area. Not a lot to say about this one, besides that they are all carrying weapons — Bokoblins have golf equipment, and Moblins seem to have some sort of double-scythe.

Rito Warfare?

On the opposite facet of this warfare are what appears like Rito troopers — the birdpeople from BOTW — which is unsurprising, provided that this recreation appears to be centred across the sky, with a ton of hen imagery. What’s attention-grabbing to notice is that they are all holding shields that look quite a bit just like the Hylian Crest (albeit a lot simplified), with out the Triforce.

However wait! That crest really has its personal identify — it is the Goddess Crest, which first appeared in Skyward Sword, and later in BOTW on Spirit Orbs. The Goddess Crest represents the goddess Hylia, and the Loftwings which the Skyloftians fly round. This may place Tears of the Kingdom within the Skyward Sword period, for the reason that Hylian Crest (with the Triforce) would not seem within the timeline till Ocarina of Time (after Minish Cap and 4 Swords).

And let’s not neglect that Zelda is Hylia reborn. Maybe these Rito are her troopers?

Who Died?

Within the centre of this warfare picture is a single fallen Rito soldier. They don’t have any defend or sword, however that may very well be for simplicity’s sake. Who’re they? Have been they the primary to fall? Is that essential? We simply do not know.

There’s really one other one even additional to the best, who does seem to have a defend (however not a sword).

Magatama! Er… Amber Relics!

Round that Owl Lad from earlier are seven little spirals, which resemble the Magatama from Ace Lawyer (and Japanese historical past, after all) — a form which seems often in jewelry and relics, which may symbolize some type of religious, non secular, or ceremonial goal.

However we have seen these earlier than in Zelda, too. Referred to as the Amber Relic and Nightfall Relic, these comma-shaped supplies are used to improve Hyperlink’s gear in Skyward Sword. The previous might be discovered in every single place, and the latter is simply discovered within the Silent Realm, an space designed to check Hyperlink, which may solely be accessed by the Hero.

“You bought an Amber Relic! It is an amber-coloured chunk of treasured stone. No one is aware of why it is this form.”
“You bought a Nightfall Relic! This merchandise is comparable in look to an Amber Relic, but very completely different. It could solely be present in sure locations.”

It is also attention-grabbing that there are seven of those across the owl. We have seen the quantity seven in Zelda video games earlier than — most notably, the Seven Sages, but additionally the Seven Maidens in BOTW, the heroines who had been the divine protectors of the Gerudo race, represented by seven big statues — and a secret eighth statue, too, representing the heroine who was “cleaned from historical past”, although nobody is aware of why. These maidens are additionally mentioned to be the descendants of the seven sages, together with Princess Zelda, however this story solely seems in A Hyperlink to the Previous and 4 Swords Adventures.

Okay, the story of the seven heroines is cool… however it’s most likely not related right here. The sages, however, most likely are related. We have already had owl theming, so it would not be a shock to search out out that these seven holy relics across the owl symbolize the sages, particularly since Rauru AKA Kaepora Gaebora is without doubt one of the sages in Ocarina of Time.

And perhaps… these are the titular “tears” of the dominion. Hmmmm.

We cannot speculate but about what this implies. You will must enter… THE SPECULATION ZONE for that (it is on web page three).

Zelda’s Not Okay

Oh pricey. Oh no. Zelda’s all horizontal.

“However wait — how are you aware that is Zelda?”

Have you ever ever seen another ladies represented in these video games’ historic paintings? No, Tetra, Hylia, Din, Farore, and Nayru do not rely. They’re all the identical particular person, kind of.

“Honest sufficient.”

Thanks. To proceed: Oh no! Zelda’ horizontal. That appears lower than best. We do not know why she’s horizontal, after all, however it’s most likely one thing unhealthy — you may see some strands of Malice creeping up beneath her.

Large Doorways

Everybody cherished the second while you get out of the collapse BOTW after which the solar is all brilliant and it’s extremely cool. Effectively! Time for one more a type of moments, besides with large doorways.

What’s value noting right here is the insignia upon the doorways — is it snakes? It kinda appears like two chickens with actually lengthy necks. Could be dragons, too, though BOTW had three dragons, representing the three goddesses of the Triforce. This circle-snake theming comes again later within the brand, too. It is most likely essential.

Color Scheme

Breath of the Wild was very blue and inexperienced — just like the sky and the grass — with touches of blue and orange to symbolize Sheikah expertise. However TOTK may be very yellow, with hints of teal and pink (perhaps representing good and evil).

(Hey, enjoyable reality: blue -> teal and orange -> pink is mainly simply a few rotations on the color wheel. What does it imply? Effectively, if we needed to get actually foolish about this, lets say that it represents the evolution of the expertise or the world indirectly, and even the repeating circle of time. However actually, they’re simply colors. They most likely simply needed new colors.)

The yellow color palette does make the world really feel a bit of unusual, as if it is dying by some means — and actually, because it looks like these sky-islands have been forcefully ripped out of Hyrule, we’re not stunned. All that grass most likely is useless.

Hyperlink’s Yucky Hand

It is nonetheless there. It is nonetheless yucky. You’ll be able to learn extra about our hand theories proper right here.

We’re nowhere close to executed! Head to web page two for extra issues from the trailer, after which web page three for the hypothesis zone…