Highlights

  • Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom changed Zelda forever, introducing survival mechanics and evolving gameplay.
  • Link's Boomerang in Breath of the Wild became more of a sword, losing its classic mechanics and efficiency.
  • The next Zelda game should bring back the Boomerang's classic mechanics to give it the respect it deserves in Link's arsenal.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its successor, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, have done what they can to change The Legend of Zelda forever. While it could be argued that they aren't the first open-world Zelda games ever made, the design and execution of their open worlds have nonetheless had a lasting impact on the franchise, likely determining where it will go from here. In addition to the new era of Zelda open worlds, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom introduced several survival mechanics that the series has never seen, like weapon durability and the multitude of weapons that Link can use. Unfortunately, this has led to some of Zelda's classic weapons largely being set aside in favor of more modern weapon designs and those that would best complement the new era's evolved gameplay.

Link is most closely associated with his iconic blade, the Master Sword. However, there are plenty of other weapons that the series has featured over its nearly forty-year lifespan, some of which either haven't been included in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom or have been heavily altered. One such weapon is arguably one of Link's most recognizable tools, but has not only been transformed but also underutilized in Zelda's new era, requiring players to get creative to use it properly and effectively. As such, it might be time for the next Zelda game to bring back this particular weapon in all its original glory and give it the respect it deserves.

Zelda TOTK 1 Year Main
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One Year Later, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Proves the Timelessness of Unrestricted Gameplay

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has already cemented its legacy through its sprawling open world and commitment to player freedom.

Since its humble beginnings in 1987, The Legend of Zelda has included Link's Boomerang in a ton of different installments. For the most part, the Boomerang has served the same purpose, despite going through several design changes since its first appearance. However, when it was reintroduced in Breath of the Wild, it arguably became more of a glorified sword than the efficient tool that it used to be, as many of its classic mechanics were lost in the shadow of the massive arsenal of weapons in BotW.

Tears of the Kingdom improved the new Boomerang, though this improvement applied to all weapons, not just the Boomerang. With Link's Fuse ability in Tears of the Kingdom, players can fuse almost any item to an equipped weapon, enhancing its power and abilities in the process. That means players can improve Boomerangs by attaching certain items to it to make it more powerful or even grant it elemental abilities. However, in Breath of the Wild's sequel, none of the Boomerang's classic mechanics were revived — a travesty that the next Zelda game should arguably reverse.

The Next Zelda Game Should Bring Back Classic Boomerang Mechanics

In its classic form, Link's Boomerang can accomplish more than simply dealing damage to enemies. The original Boomerang was designed to briefly stun or slow enemies on contact, which would give players an advantage in battle. Additionally, the Boomerang could be thrown to retrieve items such as rupees and hearts that might have been otherwise out of reach. While some players have argued that Link's Bow is an effective replacement for the Boomerang, unlike the Bow, the Boomerang doesn't require ammunition, making it a much more efficient tool in the long run.

Rumors and speculation have surrounded the next Legend of Zelda game, and whether it will bring Zelda back to its classic state. Whether it does, Link's Boomerang deserves the more prominent role it used to fill in Link's arsenal. Even if Nintendo chooses to keep Zelda in this new era, granting the Boomerang its classic mechanics might serve as a way to rewind Zelda without taking any steps backward.