Within the grand scheme ofZelda’smany timelines, it seems thatThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdommight be the closing chapter toThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Swordand serves as a bookend to the game where the cycle first began. Before its release, many had speculated about the possible connectionsThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdommight have with other games from across the series, with most theories focusing onSkyward SwordandTwilight Princess. ButTears of the Kingdom’sstory and its position withinZelda’stimelines could suggest that the cycle may finally be broken.
By examining various details from acrossTears of the Kingdom, such as its story, its themes, and its imagery, it’s possible to piece together how exactly Nintendo’s latestZeldagame connects all the way back toSkyward Sword. Though not the first ever publishedZeldagame, it caused controversy for canonizing the most essentialZeldalore despite eventually being considered the series' worst game to date. ButTears of the Kingdommight have redeemedSkyward Swordby creating a narrative and gameplay experience that endeavors to resolve its predecessor’s mistakes, ultimately providingclosure to both it andBreath of the Wild.
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Gods and Goddesses, The Zonai, and Fi
From the start ofTears of the Kingdom’sstory, the game introduces and explains the mythos of the Zonai. Though they were included in passing references inBreath of the Wild,Tears of the Kingdomexpands on this new lore by suggesting that long before Hyrule had even formed that the Zonai had come down from the heavens. While they didn’t believe they were gods, Rauru acknowledges thatthe technology of Constructs, Zonai devices, and Secret Stones would have given that impression. Despite this, Rauru still established himself as king and took a Hylian wife, and this is claimed to be the origin of Hyrule’s founding.
However, this conflicts with the canon thatSkyward Swordestablishes, as its story suggests that Zelda and Link remain on the surface and form the first kingdom of Hyrule. But while there are some details that might contradict one another, it is possible to join the two narratives together. For instance, both games make reference to how sky islands serve to protect others from evil, how advanced beings came down from the sky, and how the lines blur between the supernatural and technological. With a small adjustment, it’s arguable thatTears of the Kingdomis continuing fromSkyward Sword’scanon.
What serves as a linchpin to this theory though is Fi. Though she has been regarded by fans as the worst companion inZelda,Fi has seen recent defenseas a great concept just badly executed. Despite claiming to be a spirit created by the Goddess Hylia, Fi is without question presented as if she were an artificial intelligence, which could mean she actually has Zonai origins with her history being rewritten. This theory is strengthened inTears of the Kingdomby its story focusing on restoring the Master Sword, Fi’s theme fromSkyward Swordplaying during cutscenes, and the sword “responding” to other characters.
Ganondorf, The Depths, and Demise
In its prologue,Skyward Swordexplains howthe likes of Skyloft and other islandscame into existence, stating that fissures opened up on the surface and let loose evil forces. This is uncannily similar toTears of the Kingdomand the event that it dubs the “Upheaval,” which chasms opening up across Hyrule that Gloom emanates from. ThroughoutZelda, many games have references to an “Underworld” which was claimed to be where Ganondorf and his minions resided. This too is also reflected inTears of the Kingdom, with Ganondorf’s armies populating the Depths and where Ganondorf himself has made his lair beneath Hyrule Castle.
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Similarly, as the forebear to Ganondorf, Demise is also described to be the Demon King who commands an army from beneath the earth. But more specifically, duringSkyward Sword’sstory, it is revealed that Demise is attempting to break free from a seal he was placed under long ago, with the player encountering a boss named “The Imprisoned” on multiple occasions.Tears of the Kingdomagain appears to directly parallel this narrative, with Ganondorf attempting to break free of a seal placed on him during “The Imprisoning War.” WhileGanondorf is the reincarnation of Demise, the connections seem too close to just be self-referential.
Much like Fi, there is evidence that supports the theory thatTears of the Kingdom’sandSkyward Sword’sparallels are more than they seem, and it can be seen with Ganondorf after he has one of the Secret Stones. Not only do these Secret Stones bear aresemblance toSkyward Sword’sSacred Tearswhich further ties intoTears of the Kingdom’ssubtitle, but Ganondorf’s transformation further evokes the same look of Demise once he has been resurrected. Between flowing fiery tendrils of hair and his body pulsing with Malice or Gloom,Tears of the Kingdompresents its version of Ganondorf as Demise in everything but name.
Between Skyward Sword, Tears of the Kingdom, and Beyond
Though theZeldaseries isn’t likely to end withTears of the Kingdomas its ultimate finale, especially since a newZeldagame is supposedly already being planned, it’s possible that just asSkyward Swordbegan the timeline,Tears of the Kingdomappears to end it.Breath of the Wildhad already been confirmed by Nintendo as the supposed inevitable endpoint ofZelda’sthree branching timelines, and as its sequel so too doesTears of the Kingdom. It would therefore make sense inZelda’slarger narrative to have the closure of these branching timelines directly engage with the legacySkyward Swordhad first set out.
With this in mind, the series could still live on withZeldagames set between the two endpoints ofSkyward SwordandTears of the Kingdomas the latter emphasizes the millennia of history Hyrule has. But this could be Nintendo’s plan to redress the errors fromSkyward Sword, from small details like perfecting the use of stamina to the large such as perfecting a world within the sky, and ultimately perform a soft reboot. Until now, speculation aroundZelda’stimelines has overshadowed each game’s release, soTears of the Kingdomcould start a newZeldatimelinealtogether.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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