The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timewas a defining moment for the franchise and fans. It showcased a whole new style ofZeldagame that would later be expanded upon in ways no one could have imagined. Today, theZeldaseries boasts nearly 30 games across its original titles and remakes, all of which have become beloved classics that still hold up. Much of this love for both the individual experiences and the series itself comes from their ability to completely immerse players in a world and journey unlike any other.
However, the longer the series goes on, the more it stagnates, at least in certain areas. It’s resulted in players calling forremakes of the classics, for a return to a more nostalgic time, rather than looking forward to what the series could become. For a while, it has felt likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomrepresent the apex of what the franchise feels capable of. Fortunately, that isn’t strictly true, asThe Legend of Zeldastill has a lot left to offer the world, especially if it makes one key change to its iconic setting.
Ocarina Of Time & BOTW Transformed Zelda Exploration
They Revolutionized Hyrule
The Legend of Zeldaseries has remained largely iterative across its many entries, at least when it comes to its setting. Hyrule, while a diverse and richly detailed location, has remained at the center of theZeldafranchise for decades, undergoing minor changes and iterations with each entry, but always maintaining a sense of familiarity.This has meant that fans have grown as accustomed to Hyrule as they have to Earth itself, now having great respect and understanding of its cultures, landmarks, history, and even topography.
However, there have been a few exceptions where Hyrule was completely renewed, giving players a new perspective on it and making it feel altogether new, despite sharing the same landmarks as it always has.The two notable examples areOcarina of Time, the first 3DZeldagame that came to establish what Hyrule looked like, andBreath of the Wild, the game thatrevolutionized the entireZeldafranchiseas well as Hyrule as a location. Both games offered fans something completely new without merely altering the landscape slightly.
Replaying Ocarina Of Time Makes Me Worried For The Future Of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game. While the series has since come a long way, I’m worried it’s leaving too much behind.
Both games completely redefined what aLegend of Zeldaexperience was, whether it was by completely shifting the dimensions in which Hyrule functioned and existed, or by significantly expanding its scale and helping to flesh out spaces that were previously mere pixels. However, outside these examples,Hyrule has always felt the same, even when it has undergone some significant cosmetic alterations. This has even been the case with the subsequentZeldaSwitch releases, leaving players to believe that the Switch 2won’t get itsBOTWmoment.
Hyrule Is Familiar, Even When It Changes
It’s Always The Same Setting
Perhapsthe best example of an iterative Hyrule rather than an innovative one isTears of the Kingdom’smulti-layered offering. It greatly fleshed out the world first introduced inBOTWby adding floating islands - like those seen inSkyward Sword- and a complex labyrinthian cave system that ran beneath the entire map. Much likeTOTK’sbest features, a lot of its version of Hyrule felt like an extension ofBOTW’srather than an entirely new interpretation of it. This led toTOTK’sexploration feeling a little disappointing as so much of it had already been experienced before.
Other games, such asWind WakerandSkyward Sword, take a more ambitious approach to iterating on Hyrule. In the case ofWind Waker, Hyrule was completely submerged, leaving only the most recognizable landmarks and a handful of new locations left to explore. However, despite these grand changes,Hyrule always feels familiar, a location altered by time, but nevertheless with its core features still ingrained within it.
Zelda: TOTK Sequel Should Include This Open-World Feature To Improve Exploration
A sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom would benefit from many gameplay tweaks, but this one feature could improve exploration.
The changes made to the location were enough to make those experiences memorable, and certainly a step above something like the recentSpider-Manseries - and arguablyBOTWandTOTK- which merely repurpose locations, albeit with some additional features. However, forZeldato succeed on the Switch 2,it needs to take drastic steps to remove this sense of familiarityand, likeOcarina of TimeandBreath of the Wild, offer something fans have never seen before. It is definitely time for theZeldaseries to shake off its Hyrule baggage and switch settings.
A New Setting Could Reinvent Zelda’s Sense Of Discovery
It Could Give The Series Its Sense Of Wonder Back
Much of what has defined theZeldaexperience arguably since its inception, but certainly in its recent entries, is that sense of exploration and wonder. A considerable amount of that is derived from the environment and the many ways that Nintendo gives to the player to interact with it. However,when that environment is the same every time, no matter how many coats of paint are slathered on top, it can get repetitive and the sense of discovery and wonder is lost.
I Wish That Zelda: BOTW And TOTK’s Gerudo Used Their Own Language More
The Legend of Zelda’s implementation of the Gerudo language in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is impressive, but it could be better.
That’s why it’s important for theZeldaseries to switch locations every once in a while, as it helps keep the experience feeling fresh. However, perhaps more importantly than that, it allows the creative team behind theZeldaseries to further flesh out its mythos and lore, introducing new characters, races, and history that fans can fully immerse themselves within.It’s a chance not just for a renewal, but also to flex those creative muscles and prove there’s far more to theZeldalore than just Hyruleand its luscious grassy fields.
Of course, previous games have done this, such asLink’s Awakening- which took players to a different island - andSkyward Sword. In fact, everyZeldagame has, to some extent, fleshed out the world and lore. However, with theSwitch 2’s improved capabilities, Nintendo can craft a far more ambitious world and narrative than ever before, making this the perfect opportunity to expand the series' horizons even further.Switching locations at this point can really help give the Switch 2 its definingZeldaexperiencein a way that Hyrule simply cannot.
Whatever the nextZeldagame is, if it wants to have itsOcarina of TimeorBOTWmoment, it needs to reclaim that sense of discovery, and the best way to do that is to give players something new to discover.
While theLegend of Zeldashould always return to Hyrule, it’s good to try out new locations every so often. The ability to offer players new locations they could never have imagined, new races they’d never dreamed of meeting, and new stories they’ll remember forever is a rare opportunity Nintendo should take. Whatever the nextZeldagame is, if it wants to have itsOcarina of TimeorBOTWmoment, it needs to reclaim that sense of discovery, and the best way to do that is to give players something new to discover.
