The features we want most in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is simply across the nook as we come up on its Might 12 launch date. Though Nintendo launched the sport’s remaining trailer on Thursday morning, there’s nonetheless rather a lot we don’t find out about it.

We all know what among the new characters will seem like, and that some buddies from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild be making a return. Nintendo additionally revealed particulars about Hyperlink’s new powers and breakable weapons in Eiji Aonuma’s latest gameplay demonstration. Nevertheless, a lot of Tears of the Kingdom stays a thriller.

In 2023, Polygon is embarking on a Zeldathon. Be part of us on our journey via The Legend of Zelda sequence, from the unique 1986 recreation to the discharge of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and past.

Whereas many followers are content material to rationally theorize about what’s subsequent, it may also be enjoyable to dream massive.

In anticipation of its launch, the Polygon employees determined to spherical up a listing of options, skills, and quality-of-life enhancements we hope shall be in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These vary from the return of sure characters to… hummus. It’s an actual smorgasbord of needs. Let’s dive in!

Hummus

I believe Hyperlink ought to be capable to make hummus. You are able to do 1,000,000 issues with hummus. You may season it with acidic fruit, herbs, or veggies — the whole lot Hyperlink’s already accumulating. Let Hyperlink convey a veggie/hummus platter to his boss struggle with Ganon. Let me acquire a dozen sorts of beans, Nintendo.

I don’t have extra to this argument. I simply suppose it will be good. —Susana Polo

Let’s all journey Prince Sidon extra

Picture: Nintendo

On Thursday, throughout Tears of the Kingdom’s remaining trailer, Nintendo revealed that Prince Sidon shall be returning within the sequel. Now that he’s confirmed to be within the subsequent recreation, I simply hope we get to journey him extra.

The Zora royal charmed me from the second Hyperlink met him along with his broad, sparkly smile. The man has one of the best golden retriever vitality of any Zelda character I do know, and groups up with Hyperlink in one of the simplest ways potential: Hyperlink will get to actually journey Sidon as the 2 struggle the Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Though some intelligent glitch hunters discovered a solution to journey Sidon in every single place, I’m hoping that Nintendo will embody the power by default. —Ana Diaz

Prompt swappable armor and weapon units

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild incorporates a deep closet of substances to arm Hyperlink with. Should you’re going to navigate sure areas, just like the snowy mountains within the Hebra area or the lava-laced Demise Mountain, it’s extraordinarily useful to get specialised gear that protects Hyperlink from the weather. Not like different gear, like your bow, sword, and protect, altering your armor set forces you to enter one other menu and change what Hyperlink’s sporting, piece by piece. It’s a bit cumbersome if you happen to’re teleporting from place to position, attempting to finish quests or uncover extra shrines, so I’m hoping this shall be addressed within the sequel. —AD

Playable Zelda

Picture: Nintendo

Followers have been asking for years to play as Princess Zelda, but it surely’s by no means occurred in a mainline Legend of Zelda recreation (though it’s potential within the Hyrule Warriors video games and Smash Bros.). Zelda’s had some fairly cool adventures up to now, and much too lots of them have occurred off display. I don’t anticipate Tears of the Kingdom to be the sport that lastly grants this want, however there’s no hurt in hoping. It virtually appears potential this time round, since it is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, and sequels provide the prospect to increase gamers’ views on a preexisting world.

All that mentioned, Breath of the Wild’s story was very a lot about Zelda; she and Hyperlink felt like twin protagonists, though the previous wasn’t playable. That’s typically the case in my favourite Zelda video games, similar to Ocarina of Time, by which Zelda’s skillset and support are of frequent use to Hyperlink. I anticipate one thing just like occur in Tears of the Kingdom, but it surely positive can be good to spend a while within the princess’s footwear for as soon as. —Maddy Myers

Hero’s Path

Picture: Nintendo through Polygon

I’d like to see the Hero’s Path function return in Tears of the Kingdom. It was launched alongside some DLC for Breath of the Wild as a brand new talent to your Sheikah Slate. Whilst probably the most minor part of that content material drop, it made for a very enjoyable solution to look again in your journey.

With Hero’s Path enabled (by urgent X whereas wanting on the map), you might watch a extremely simplified icon of Hyperlink hint a inexperienced line across the map, mirroring your actions because you initially awoke on the primary plateau. It exhibits each place you walked, in what order, once you died, and once you warped to a brand new place. Past being enjoyable to observe, it’s a tremendous feat that a lot granularity is preserved in your save file.

Nonessential? Sure. However it’s a type of cherry-on-top options that I’d like to see in Tears of the Kingdom, in addition to in each different open-world recreation. —Cameron Faulkner

Musical devices

Picture: Nintendo

Everyone knows that the music of the Legend of Zelda video games is known, and Breath of the Wild was no completely different. However what it lacked was a solution to convey that music into the gameplay itself. Certain, positive, positive, I cherished catching the faint hum of accordion on the wind as I explored Hyrule, understanding that I might comply with it to Kass for a brand new puzzle. However what if I need to play the accordion?

Since Ocarina of Time (to not point out Majora’s Masks and Twilight Princess), Hyperlink has used music (OK, OK, or wolf howls) to disclose secrets and techniques, open doorways, tame wild animals, warp time, alter the climate, and cleanse evil spirits. I’m not saying I must do all that in Tears of the Kingdom. However to me, one of many enduring joys of the Zelda franchise is music’s connection to magic; the accomplishment gained from studying songs like spells, storing them in my very personal mind, and really performing them to carry out miracles.

And, additionally, simply tootling alongside on slightly instrument to see what sounds I could make. I need to expertise that pleasure once more in a brand new Zelda recreation, and the precision and suppleness of the Change’s inputs solely make it extra tantalizing. To not point out Tears of the Kingdom’s demonstrated kludge mechanics: Let me slap a stick and a few monster guts collectively to make a stringed instrument and pluck open a magic door. Let me stack wolf pores and skin on a log to make a drum, and jam with Hestu and his maracas!

OK, OK, fantastic. Simply make the Sheikah Slate right into a melodica or one thing, however convey again taking part in music in Zelda. —SP