TheLegend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma explained how Princess Zelda can get her own game, with her in the leading role. After several delays and teases, Nintendo’s sequel to Breath of the Wild has finally made it into the hands of fans. This iteration of the long-running franchise has already seen massive acclaim, where fans and critics are raving about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While this game once again places players in the boots of its iconic hero Link, there were some fans who wondered if Princess Zelda would be playable in the years up to its launch.
There was much speculation and rumors being passed around in-between the release of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. These ranged from the possibility of a playable Zelda, to a revisited villain, to gameplay features like dungeons making a return. Of the most prominent ones that fans hoped would be true, a playable Zelda was the most appealing. While Zelda herself isn’t playable in this entry, producer Eiji Aonuma explains how the long-time princess might get her own chance to shine.
In an interview between Aonuma and Vanity Fair, he was asked about the development history and what went into making the game. He revealed various stories from behind the scenes, such as how long it took, the origins of the Ultrahand, and other details. One question he was asked was whether Zelda would be starring in her own game. Aonuma answered that the gameplay always came first in the development, and if the gameplay would be best served by having Zelda in the lead role, then it could be the direction they take. He elaborated further that since they haven’t decided on what the next game’s direction would be, then they haven’t decided on if the Princess would fill that role.
Back when Breath of the Wild was in development, there were plenty of rumors regarding a female version of Link, some suggesting that there would be one male and female in the game. These obviously ended up not coming to pass, though Aonuma did comment on the possibility of making Link a woman. He stated that since Zelda was already a major character, she would be best served to star in her own adventure if they were going to make a game with a female protagonist.
A lot of fans were hoping that Zelda was going to become playable, especially when the trailers had given a lot of focus on her being separated from Link, along with a shot of Zelda carrying the Master Sword in the game's third trailer. The only games where she ended up being the main playable heroine were the critically maligned Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda's Adventure Philips CD-i games. While it might sting to hear that a playable Zelda currently isn’t in the cards, the possibility is not off the table.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now for Nintendo Switch.
Source: Vanity Fair
