Fans eagerly awaiting the release ofThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwere given even more reasons to be excited, as this week’sgameplay trailer revealed four new abilities for Link. At the 2:30 mark of the nearly 10-minute presentation, Link looks across Hyrule from atop one ofTears of the Kingdom’s new sky islands, revealing what appears to be Naydra, the dragon spirit of wisdom, in the distance. While the dragon’s return is exciting, its behavior seems nearly identical to that ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,indicating a similar role in Link’s newest adventure. The case can be made for Hyrule’s dragons to play an even bigger role inTears of the Kingdom,as they should evolve alongside the environments and characteristics that they embody.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis set to release in May 2023. However, little has been revealed about its story, characters, and gameplay. This week’s gameplay trailer gave players the best look yet at Link’s new abilities but cut the presentation off before too much was revealed, leading fans to analyze the video for clues and hidden features. It was surprising, then, that Naydra was featured so clearly, as dragons have not been featured in prior footage fromThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
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Zelda’s Dragons Are More Than Just Physical Creatures
Early in theirBreath of the Wildplaythrough, players may catch sight ofHyrule’s elemental dragons. Though they take on the form of majestic and mighty beasts, the dragons are far more important to the lore ofBreath of the Wild,as they are actually primordial beings that represent the spirits of the Triforce - Wisdom, Courage, and Power. Naydra, the Spirit of Wisdom, can first be found atop Mount Lanayru, where it is suffering due to corruption by Calamity Ganon. Link can utilize air gusts to destroy eyes protruding from Naydra’s corruption, freeing the spirit. Afterward, the dragon can be found roaming the skies around Mount Lanayru.
Once free of corruption,Breath of the Wild’s dragons can be found patrolling certain locations at specific times of the day. Should the player locate a dragon and get in proximity, Link can shoot it with an arrow to receive valuable items and scales. Though some of these items can be found in rare chests, others are wholly unique, allowing Link to access special shrines or craft certain items. Dragons embody the foundations ofBreath of Wild’s Hyrule, making their reappearance inTears of the Kingdomnatural. However, assigning the dragons to their former roles and routines indicates a significant oversight in evolving Hyrule for the series' next entry.
Tears of the Kingdom’s Dragons Need To Break From Their Rut
Islands likely aren’t the only important additions toHyrule’s skies inZelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The title appears set to utilize the sky as an extension ofBreath of The Wild’s open world. Therefore, it only makes sense that returning elements should expand along with it. The dragons' return inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomshould evolve pastBreath of the Wild’s characterization and provide the spirits with characteristics that reflect the changes to both Hyrule’s structure and its relationship with the Goddess Hylia. Given the shift in landscape, it’s likely that the springs tied to the Spirits have altered as well. These changes should be directly connected, showcasing the spiritual and physical change in the land through the portrayal of its dragons.
It remains to be seen whether Naydra and the other dragons will play any role at all inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, Naydra’s appearance in this week’s gameplay trailer, despite Nintendo focusing almost exclusively onLink’s newest abilities, feels like an important reveal. Luckily, questions surrounding this topic, and so many more, won’t be lingering for long, asThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwill be released in just over a month. With this week’s gameplay trailer likely to be the title’s final presentation, fans are more eager than ever to experience the land, sea, and sky of Hyrule for themselves.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwill be released on May 12 for the Nintendo Switch.
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