Thanks to both gameplay trailers giving fans a glimpse of Nintendo's upcoming game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is expected to take players soaring into the skies above Hyrule. Though this could be Nintendo taking inspiration from Skyward Sword and hoping to improve in-flight gameplay a second time around, it may be more likely that Breath of the Wild 2 is attempting to expand on its predecessor's map by going up instead of out.
But if Breath of the Wild 2 is going to increase the verticality of the original game, then Nintendo shouldn't just stop going skyward. In the wake of revelations that underwater mechanics may have been planned for Breath of the Wild but later scrapped, then Breath of the Wild 2 should take us below the surface and into the submerged depths below.
Diving Into Breath of the Wild's Cut Mechanics
The theory behind cut underwater mechanics for Breath of the Wild first emerged when players discovered that, by performing a certain glitch, they were able to see 'under' the water, revealing details that could not be seen during normal gameplay such as coral decorations and rock formations. It gained further traction when it was featured on the prominent YouTube channel DidYouKnowGaming? as it took a deep dive behind-the-scenes of Breath of the Wild and its secrets, citing developer Hidemaro Fujibayashi's hobby of cave-diving for the possible inspiration behind the direction the game could have taken.
Ultimately, whether it became a time crunch toward Breath of the Wild's release or a holdover for a possible sequel, the potential mechanics and ideas for underwater exploration never made it into the final game. Leftover content that might hint towards the original existence of underwater gameplay may not just end with hidden assets, but the inclusion of a 'dive' mechanic for Link and the Zora armor's ability to travel up waterfalls with the capability to perform water attacks all suggest this was the case.
What further makes this interesting is an early prototype shown at CEDEC 2017 of Breath of the Wild illustrating initial technical developments was leaked, showcasing early mechanics such as Skyward Sword-inspired sky-diving that were possibly planned for Breath of the Wild. Given that fans have now seen Link diving through the air in trailers for Breath of the Wild 2, it would appear that content that found its way to the cutting room floor from the first game is now making its way into the second.
The Case For Going Below Hyrule
Provided that gameplay trailers and leaks of patents for new abilities have confirmed fans' suspicions about exploring the skies above Hyrule, it doesn't yet seem that any consideration has been made to exploring the seas below Hyrule. Not only would this be a missed opportunity to take advantage of a return to the world established in the previous game in a new way, but it would be leaving out half of what players expect.
When Nintendo confirmed that Breath of the Wild 2 was in development and would be the same Hyrule map of the first game, speculation immediately turned to how the studio could up the ante and improve upon what it already had. Nintendo's solution appears to have been to increase the verticality of its map, allowing the player to not just travel across the land but to go up as well into the skies. But when increasing verticality, the potential is there to not only go up but down as well.
Early speculation reflected this with fans anticipating that dungeons could return in Breath of the Wild 2 in lieu of the first game's Divine Beasts, meaning that players wanted both aspects of increased map verticality. The ability to dive underwater and explore the various lakes, rivers, and seas around Hyrule, therefore, goes hand-in-hand with the ability to explore the skies above. Between possible cut underwater mechanics, the extensive bodies of water, and the easily implemented lore within arm's reach from the Zora domain for water exploration, Breath of the Wild 2 is practically begging to take players under the sea and beyond.
It's Not Just Plain Sailing For Breath of the Wild 2
Sadly, while taking to the seas of Hyrule and going below the surface as much as Breath of the Wild 2 could take players above it is enticing, it is still just as likely not to happen. While Nintendo has a history of saving cut content for later dates, such as cut ideas lifted from Wind Waker to Twilight Princess, the decision to take Link into the sky could have more recent beginnings.
For instance, previous sky-diving mechanics from the CEDEC prototype could have simply been refurbished from Skyward Sword to save time, and Floating Platforms introduced in the Master Mode with the Master Trials DLC could have been testing the water for Breath of the Wild to explore in-air gameplay. Any hints towards underwater mechanics have, however, remained elusive and unconfirmed, with only fan speculation providing these rumors any merit.
The final nail in the coffin for underwater gameplay in Breath of the Wild 2 might be that it has not yet been featured in any gameplay trailer seen so far. This could be because it remains unfinished and Nintendo is holding it back for a later reveal, but it is more likely that the content isn't being planned at all. If the latter is true, then it would be a detriment to Breath of the Wild 2 to not take advantage of a return to the original game's content and expand upon it as much as possible. After all, Nintendo hasn't yet created a Zelda "trilogy" successfully, meaning that Breath of the Wild 2 has a lot to deliver if a third doesn't come to pass. Stakes are therefore high for Breath of the Wild 2 possible directions and success, with an equally high standard it needs to meet.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is set to release in early 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
