Of the multiple games coming to the Nintendo Switch in the future, no other title arguably has as much hype surrounding it as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2. The first installment launched alongside Nintendo's latest console and set the bar incredibly high for the games to come, with many players still feeling it is the number one exclusive available for the platform. With the sequel confirmed for a release sometime in 2022, fans of the beloved franchise are counting down the days, not just until release, but until even a scrap of new information is unveiled for the game.
Aside from two cryptic, brief teaser trailers, Breath of the Wild 2 hasn't exactly shed much light on what to expect for the upcoming sequel. The narrative is shrouded in mystery, and gameplay mechanics are still being kept under wraps. However, in the E3 2019 reveal trailer for Breath of the Wild 2, it seemed clear that the series classic villain, Ganondorf, will factor into the game in some way or form. Due to the lack of clarity from Nintendo itself, fans have had to come up with theories as to how Breath of the Wild 2 will play out, with some particularly wild ideas regarding Ganondorf himself.
Who Is The Mummified Corpse?
One of the most striking visual elements from the aforementioned reveal trailer for Breath of the Wild 2 was the image of a mummified corpse with piercing red eyes. This decomposed body is found in a deep cave by Link and Zelda, seemingly dead, but then comes back to life, like a creature possessed. Its eyes flash red as its head cracks and sways to look at the viewer in some truly horrifying imagery, bringing a layer of terror not commonly seen in The Legend of Zelda franchise.
The immediate assumption is that this corpse belongs to Ganondorf, a plausible theory considering the red hair, as well as the assortment of jewelry pieces that the villain often sports. The question remains as to exactly which Ganondorf this is. The Legend of Zelda timeline is a long one, with branching paths and intersecting plot threads. Link and Zelda seem to find the corpse underneath Hyrule Castle, implying it could be the Ganon from the first game. But the series has been known to have some twists in the past, so fans are holding their breath for answers.
Twilight Princess Connection
On the topic of The Legend of Zelda timeline, there is a prior installment that many players are already drawing comparisons to with Breath of the Wild 2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the GameCube's swan song and launch title for Wii, is praised for its mature storyline and interplay between two different worlds (being that of Hyrule and the Twilight Realm). One element, in particular, was a unique visual style, with distorted landscapes and striking colors, primarily red and green.
Many have been quick to point out that in the reveal trailer for Breath of the Wild 2, Link's arm is affected by a green energy source that looks strikingly similar to that of the Twilight realm energy seen in Twilight Princess. This same energy seems to be swirling around Ganon's corpse at one point in the trailer, begging the question of if the villain has somehow tapped into the abilities seen from the Twilight realm. Adding fuel to the fire is the bizarre music throughout the trailer, which sounds like people speaking backward, a similar trait to Midna, Link's partner from Twilight Princess.
Ganondorf Origin Story
According to some fans, Breath of the Wild 2 will be delving much deeper into the history of Hyrule than many are expecting. In fact, the upcoming sequel could very well dive into the origin story of Ganondorf as a man, before he turns evil. The theory comments on how the mummified corpse mentioned earlier, and the Link seen skydiving in the trailer, appear to be wearing a very similar tunic. Provided this turns out to be the same character, Nintendo could be acting deceptively clever here, showing the same character, just at two different points in time.
Additionally, this hero seen falling from the sky has a uniform that looks just like the "Hero of 10,000 Years Ago," as depicted on a tapestry in a flashback from the original Breath of the Wild. This is to be taken with a grain of salt of course, but this could be a big twist and change up to the established formula. One final supporting point is how both the mummified corpse and skydiving Link seem to have long, primal-like hair, as opposed to the usual ponytail style players see the protagonist sporting.
Playable Ganondorf
Taking the above a step further, some suggest that Ganon's origin story won't simply be touched upon in cutscenes and in-game dialogue, but gamers will actually be controlling the antagonist throughout the journey. While Ganondorf has certainly been playable in other games such as the Super Smash Bros franchise, he has never taken center stage as the main character in a proper adventure in The Legend of Zelda series.
Provided most of the above theories are true, and Breath of the Wild 2 takes players back to show the downfall of one of Nintendo's most celebrated antagonists, this could be a creative gamble that pays off in a big way. After all, Nintendo can't simply rehash Breath of the Wild again and will need to find a fresh new spin to keep the experience fresh. What better way to do so than make players control the villain, inviting new gameplay opportunities, story beats, and themes to be explored.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 releases in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
