Highlights
- The Sheikah were advanced beings focused on protecting Hyrule royalty, creating technology like the Sheikah Slate and Towers.
- Sheikah Stones were an odd invention that served as guidance for players, especially in Skyward Sword with motion controls, but are absent in newer games.
- The lack of Sheikah Stones in recent games could be due to players not needing help adapting to motion controls, as well as living Sheikah being present. Still, the talking stones remain an odd bit of series lore.
Throughout his travels, Link encounters a lot of strange objects. In fact, there are many examples of him speaking with seemingly inanimate objects, like rocks tucked away in a corner. Back in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, he was chatting with Gossip Stones. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, he prays at Goddess Statues in order to get more heart containers or increases to his stamina meter. In Tears of the Kingdom, there are bargainer statues in the Depths interested in poes. In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, there was another interactive stone conspicuously missing from the new games: the Sheikah Stones.
Breath Of The Wild: 6 Things You Didn't Know About The Sheikah
There are many secrets about the Sheikah even some of the biggest Zelda fans don't know about.
The Sheikah Were Ahead of Their Time
According to the lore of Hyrule, the Sheikah were an advanced elf-like race that were concerned with the protection of the royal family. They were long-lived, which explains why Purah made it to 120 years old and still as sharp as a tack in the newest games. Purah and her predecessors were responsible for the creation of highly advanced technology, from the Nintendo Switch-like Sheikah Slate to the massive Sheikah Towers that unlock the map. In much of the world, if Link is interacting with a piece of technology, it is most likely to be Sheikah in origin. Because the Sheikah were dedicated to the safety of Hyrule's royals, it makes sense that this lost civilization continues to assist Princess Zelda's fiercest protector.
Previous to Breath of the Wild, the Sheikah were largely absent in the games, with only their leftover technology and legends to help Hyrule's hero. In Skyward Sword, for instance, the Sheikah's sole representative is Impa, a recurring character in many of the games. The Hyrule of Skyward Sword is considerably different to the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild, but as with all Legend of Zelda games, some details remain the same.
What Are the Sheikah Stones?
In the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, there is a huge variety of never-before-seen Sheikah technology like the selfie-snapping Sheikah Slate. This Slate also holds the Hyrule Compendium, as well as button controls, and so can serve as a guide if players are feeling stuck. In Skyward Sword, that is what the Sheikah Stones were for. Skyward Sword introduced new IRL, physical technology and so some extra guidance was included in the game and dispensed with those Sheikah Stones.
The motion controls in Skyward Sword were highly controversial, with many players frustrated by their finicky nature. There were many complaints about a lack of responsiveness, despite the technology being billed as innovative.
Sheikah Stones are round, standing stones marked with the iconic eye with three eyelashes rune that represents the Sheikah people. They are different than the blue-eyed Gossip Stones that also dispense information. In Skyward Sword, these stones are tucked away in convenient spots to provide Link, and therefore the player, with helpful hints. For example, when Link's Loftwing is boarded up in a cave, he can't seem to break the boards to release the big bird. A helpful Sheikah Stone can give him a vision of the rope that ties the boards together on the edges and show him the exact motions he needs to execute in order to slice through them.
Player Trust May Explain The Absence of Shiekah Stones in Newer Games
Sheikah Stones were there, essentially, to keep players from getting stuck. With Skyward Sword, new motion controls were introduced and executed through the Wii. Through the inclusion of Sheikah Stones, developers sprinkled in a little extra guidance to get players accustomed to what is, and isn't, possible with motion controls. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are games tailored for the Switch, which does support motion controls, but not nearly to the extent of the Wii. The Wii's standout feature was its revolutionary motion controls, but this was a way of playing that Zelda fans were unaccustomed to. Sheikah Stones helped players acclimate to this new way of saving Hyrule.
In the new games, it is possible that Sheikah Stones are absent because players do not need the same level of guidance. There are other resources for them to turn to, as well as a return to a more traditional control scheme that does not require explanation. Additionally, there are living Sheikah like the inventor Purah available for Link to consult, so he no longer needs a talkative stone to chat with. Still, the Stones remain an odd piece of Zelda lore and one of the stranger figures that Link has interacted with.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Take to the skies and experience The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword on Nintendo Switch. In the earliest story in the Legend of Zelda series, players guide Link through his high-flying quest to save Zelda, a childhood friend who must confront her destiny. Players descend from the sky to the dangerous world below in this high-flying quest. Players will also face a number of perilous dungeons packed with puzzles and even more adventure. Whether they are scouring for secrets, getting in some sword practice, or upgrading equipment, players can forge their own path in the Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword HD game.
