In taking the formula established in its predecessor and expanding upon it by nearly every metric, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of Nintendo's greatest successes and a worthy follow-up to Breath of the Wild. In Nintendo's own words, fans can continue to expect open-world Zelda titles as the future norm for the series, clearly differentiating the new games from older entries in the franchise. However, the shake ups to established Zelda gameplay aren't the only major change in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, as both tell a very different story than previous games in the series. Conspicuously, the Triforce was missing from both titles.
The Triforce has appeared in every Zelda title since the original Legend of Zelda on NES and is one of the most important pieces of the series' iconography as well as having a special significance to the overarching Zelda timeline and lore. Often appearing on the heraldry of the Kingdom of Hyrule or manifesting as the physical object of series antagonist Ganon's desire for control, the Triforce is meant to represent the ultimate power in the Zelda universe and is maybe the most recognizable symbol from the franchise. It's absence in the two most recent Zelda games could spell a very different future for the series.
The History of the Triforce in The Legend of Zelda's Canon
The history of the Triforce is an interesting one in that it has two feet planted firmly in both the real and the imaginary. Three smaller triangles coming together to form one larger one is actually a 13th Century Japanese symbol referred to as a Mitsuuroko, or "three scales." The symbol was associated with the Hojo clan of 12th and 13th-century Japan and would go on to also be used by a number of Japanese entities, explaining how the symbol came to be employed.ed by Shigeru Miyamoto in The Legend of Zelda as the symbol of the three goddesses.
In terms of the symbol's significance in the fictional world of Hyrule, the Triforce is representative of the three powers associated with the triumvirate of goddesses responsible for the creation of the world. The Triforce is made up of Wisdom, Power, and Courage - the three attributes associated with Hyrule's deities. While the original Legend of Zelda broke the Triforce into 8 separate pieces for Link to locate, every subsequent Zelda game has featured the Triforce as three triangles and used it to represent both the object of Ganon's desire and the capacity for good to triumph over evil when wielded by one pure of heart -- The Hero of Time.
What the Triforce's Absence in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom May Indicate
Despite some speculation regarding the initial images from Tears of the Kingdom possibly indicating the return of the Triforce, the iconic Zelda symbol was nowhere to be found within the game's story or world. After not appearing in two consecutive Legend of Zelda titles, it's safe to say that Nintendo is omitting its inclusion on purpose. As far as what the reasons are regarding why the Triforce has yet to make an appearance in either of the open-world Zelda games, its absence may be indicative of a new branch in the Zelda timeline.
Series producer and new Zelda mastermind Eiji Aonuma recently revealed in an interview that fans should expect more open-world Zelda titles. This deviation from the Zelda formula makes sense financially in that both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have been massive successes for Nintendo, but some fans are sure to be disappointed in the series continuing to move away from its classic formula. One silver lining is that the new style of gameplay has arrived alongside what may be a brand-new path forward and retcon of canon for the Legend of Zelda, paving the way for the Zelda franchise to stick around for another 35 years.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out now for the Nintendo Switch.
