The Legend of Zelda fans have been eagerly awaiting the sequel to Breath of the Wild. It was first teased in 2021, and the brief snippets gamers have gotten suggest that Link's adventures will be greater than ever, and he will have more tools at his disposal, including a bird-shaped stone glider to help him soar the skies. Not much has been revealed about this strange new form of transportation that will appear in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, though it could open the door for some exciting Zelda aerial battles.
A lot of questions surround the upcoming sequel, and gamers have been wondering what Tears of the Kingdom's title could mean for the series. Though players will be returning to Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom, things look far different, and there are floating islands that can be traveled between. It remains to be seen how and why this occurs, but it should ensure that the game is sufficiently distinct from its predecessor.
Tears of the Kingdom Takes to the Skies
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Link awakens from a long slumber to discover that Hyrule is under threat from Calamity Ganon, a sinister force that brings destruction. Although Zelda has been able to contain Ganon within Hyrule Castle, she needs Link to subdue the evil finally. It takes plenty of preparation, but Link can finally take on Ganon and defeat him, allowing Zelda to seal him away and bring peace to Hyrule once again. After the chaos caused by Ganon and his Malice, there is much that has to be done to rebuild the kingdom, but things appear brighter than ever.
With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it appears that all is not well in Hyrule just yet. Trailers show that Malice plagues the kingdom and that there are many more dangers for Link to overcome. Very little is known of the plot, and several theories suggest what Tears of the Kingdom might bring, with some fans hypothesizing that the upcoming game may involve time travel. However, what is clear is that the version of Hyrule that players will explore is quite different from the one encountered in Breath of the Wild.
Trailers for the upcoming game have shown Hyrule Castle being thrust upward by Malice, suggesting that much more of the game will take place in the skies. Gamers have also seen that there will be floating islands that Link will be able to travel between, a feature which has roots in Skyward Sword. In Breath of the Wild, Link has a paraglider to help him soar, but it depletes his stamina, making it a poor choice for long-distance journeys. Fortunately, it appears that he will have a new form of transportation in the sequel.
After free-falling from the heavens, Link lands on a stone gliding device shaped like a bird, and it takes him toward a mountain with a glowing green mural on its face. If the glider is indeed a new tool in Link's arsenal, it will make traveling between the floating islands a fun and speedy experience. It also makes it possible for players to engage in aerial combat, which could result in some exhilarating gameplay.
How Aerial Combat Could Work in Tears of the Kingdom
Standing on the mysterious stone glider, Link has his hands free, allowing him to make use of his bow and other weapons. As the stone glider travels, it is easy to imagine him being ambushed by Keese and other flying monsters, forcing players to attempt to aim at moving enemies while their own character remains in constant motion. Breath of the Wild had gameplay that slightly resembled this, as players could engage in horseback combat, but in the sky, there is an additional dimension added.
The stone glider also opens the door for new enemy variations and the introduction of new enemies. One common criticism of Breath of the Wild is that the game lacks enemy variety, and the upcoming game could mend that by including new monsters designed for aerial combat. There are a few options to choose from in the franchise's history, including the Winged Octoroks that appear in Link's Awakening, and the Aeralfos from Twilight Princess. Though these battles could prove to be quite exciting, they could also be extremely perilous, as Link falling off his glider could have him plummeting to his death.
Aerial combat could also open the door for new weapons to be introduced to The Legend of Zelda. This could include new bows with arrows designed for aerial attacks, and spears that are perfect for chucking at flying enemies. The game could also include new bombs that players could toss at swarms of enemies and detonate at the right moment. New weapons would also help with plucking birds out the sky to collect meat for cooking.
As trailers have revealed, some strange green magic will come into play in the upcoming game, and Link's arm will be kitted out with mysterious technology that may replace the Sheikah Slate. Gamers have also been able to peek at some of his new abilities and equipment, and it appears that he will be able to travel upward by climbing rock debris that have been frozen midair. He has also been seen freezing a spiked ball and reversing it up a hill, killing enemies along the way. Interacting with the open world and finding creative ways to use the environment's physics to get the best of enemies is one of the most captivating aspects of Breath of the Wild, and it seems that Tears of the Kingdom will retain this element and also improve on it by taking the gameplay to the heavens.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled to be released on May 12, 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
