While we still don’t know the title for the Sequel to the Breath of the Wild, we did get our first look at some exciting new gameplay mechanics. The Zelda sequel was easily one of the most hyped up reveals of E3 2021, and Nintendo did not disappoint. The sequel remains untitled, but we do know that Nintendo aims to release the highly anticipated game in 2022. The gameplay trailer is short and sweet, but there is plenty to analyze and speculate about. Judging by the gameplay trailer, it seems that plenty of cut content from Breath of the Wild will be making it into the sequel. While not much is known about the game, one thing is for sure; the anticipated sequel will be adding plenty to the world established in Breath of the Wild.
The Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Trailer
Link Arms Himself With A Scrapped Mechanic
The original teaser trailer from 2019 did not reveal much about the game, but it did suggest that something would happen to Link’s arm. A green mystical hand is seen gripping onto what is believed to be Ganondorf’s dead body. Dark red malice flows from the dead body, and green lively malice streams from the mystical hand. If you pay close attention, the trailer flashes a scene of Link falling and the hand seems to catch him. Upon doing so, green malice swarms over Link’s hand, covering it completely.
Perhaps this is what happens after Zelda falls into the dark chasm from the new gameplay trailer. This hand seems to not only save Link by grabbing ahold of him, but it also grants Link some magical new abilities (maybe we will see the return of magic power?). Concept art for the original game depicted Link with a missing arm. It is likely that this scrapped idea is making a return in the sequel.
The Hand Grants Link Magical New Powers
The gameplay trailer is very short, but we still got a good look at some of Link’s impressive new abilities. The first of these magical new abilities work like an upgraded form of stasis. Link is shown extending out his arm and performing a circular casting-like motion in order to stir kinetic energy around a large spiked metal ball. A yellow path follows behind the ball, highlighting its path of destruction. The ball then tears through some bokoblins and a moblin. Is it possible some of these new powers are upgraded versions of runes?
A New Weapon Or A New Ability?
Another ability shows Link with a dragon’s head over his hand which spits out fire, engulfing a strange Like-like looking monster in flames. I believe this may be an obtainable weapon rather than an ability gained from the mystical hand. Link has the dragon head over his left arm, but his right arm is the one that was blessed (cursed?) by the green malice. This could be a whole new category of weapons featured in the game. Inside the mouth of the dragon is more green malice. This seems to have a very prominent role in this game.
Link Won’t Just Be Freezing Water In The Sequel To Breath Of The Wild
Following the scene with the flame belching boars head, we see a puddle of water transmute into the air. It seems that Link will be able to play with water in more ways than just freezing it. In Breath of the Wild, Link was able to freeze water into platforms using the Cryonis rune. The trailer doesn’t show what Link does with this floating water, but I anticipate learning more about it. Perhaps it can be used to damage or extinguish flaming enemies?
A Call Back To A Link Between Worlds?
Lastly we see Link place his arms and hands in a diving position before leaping into the sky. This ability starts off similar to Revali’s Gale, an ability from the first game. The twist here is that once Link hits an object above him, he phases into it and pops out on top. The blessed hand seems to create a hole out of green malice, granting Link this new ability. This ability reminds me of Link’s ability to phase into walls in A Link Between Worlds. In the 3DS game, Link is able to turn into a 2D version of himself and crawl along walls in side-scrolling segments. While this does seem to function entirely different, it is cool to see this kind of mechanic return to the series.
Another Scrapped Feature Found Its Way Into The Sequel To Breath Of The Wild
A Link Between World’s phasing mechanic isn’t the only one returning in the Sequel to Breath of the Wild. Skyward Sword’s skydiving makes a majestic return. This feature was missed in Breath of the Wild. Considering the game has several high places to jump from, it is surprising that Link never got to skydive while fast falling.
Link isn’t just jumping off of mountains in the sequel though; it seems that the sky will heavily play into the game. The sky may even be just as important in this time around as it was in Skyward Sword. If that is the case, it is no wonder why skydiving now makes its big comeback. This mechanic was originally intended to be in Breath of the Wild, but it was scrapped. It seems that the sequel really is shaping up to become the perfect and completed vision of the original game. By revising the same world with the same assets, the developers likely got all of the time and resources possible to fully flesh out the world and mechanics envisioned for Breath of the Wild.
If you haven’t played the original Breath of the Wild, I highly suggest you give it a go! You can purchase the game by utilizing our affiliate link below. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What do you think about these new abilities in the Sequel to Breath of the Wild? Did you know about the content scrapped from the original game? Let us know down in the comments.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is one of the most hyped games of 2021. The sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time (and possibly the reason for the Switch’s instant success) was revealed with a teaser in 2019. Nothing has been shown off regarding the highly anticipated game since. It is highly likely we will finally see gameplay at the Nintendo Direct E3 2021 presentation. Not only is it near the 35th anniversary of the series (fashionably late though of course), but it is the two year anniversary of the game’s initial announcement.
The game is currently our most anticipated reveal for E3 2021. Not much is known about the sequel to Breath of the Wild, so the reveal will be exciting. Before tomorrow’s presentation, I wanted to present my list of features I hope to see in the highly anticipated sequel. Here are 10 things we would love to see in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2.
10 Things We Need To Be In Breath Of The Wild
#10 – A Stronger Narrative
While the Breath of the Wild certainly has a story (a dark one at that!), the story is mostly told through flash backs. Not only is the story not prominent in the game, it isn’t full of many memorable moments that mean much to the player. There is no Helmaroc King that kidnaps your sister; no Groose to add to each cutscene; there just isn’t much going on in the present timeline of the game.
A Clean Slate To Explore In Breath Of The Wild 2
It makes sense, as the game was meant to be a vast world full of mystery, but I want to see this changed in the sequel. The next game should focus on expanding the lore of the franchise. Fortunately, Breath of the Wild left a clean slate to push off from. There is so much more to explore in this world; from what we saw in teaser trailer, there is still plenty more to discover. I hope to see a story that makes revisiting this world worth it.
#9 – Other Playable Characters
Breath of the Wild 2 marks the first time in over two decades that a console Zelda game received a direct sequel. The first (and only) other time this happen was with the N64’s Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. The sequel to Ocarina of Time added three new play styles to Link. The Hero of Time obtained three masks that allowed him to possess the powers and appearances of three deceased characters. These characters included a pitiful Deku Scrub, a Goron chieftain, and a legendary rock and roll Zora.
Revisiting A World Calls For Change
These new ways to play added a ton to the gameplay established in Ocarina of Time. Majora’s Mask’s risky additions and changes made revisiting the same hero exciting. Breath of the Wild 2 could take a page from these games. Revisiting this world calls for fleshing out more characters within the world. It would be fun and refreshing to play as new characters. Even the Wind Waker had players control soon-to-be sages Makar and Medli in the Wind and Earth temples respectively. Whether it be for a side quest, through an ability (or mask), or just the addition of a playable Zelda, it would be great if there were more playable characters.
#8 – The Return Of Ganondorf
Based off of the teaser trailer, it seems like we may be seeing the return of the Gerudo King. We haven’t seen the King of Thieves in his human form since 2006’s Twilight Princess. It would be exciting to see the return of Ganondorf. Whether he is undead, or simply terrorizes the world with his dark malice, his return would make for a great threat to Hyrule. Until we see the narrative unfold, it is unlikely we will know how prominent Ganondorf’s role in the game is (if that even is Ganondorf), but we are excited regardless.
#7 – Side Characters And Side Quests
As previously mentioned, revisiting a world calls for further fleshing it out. While Breath of the Wild did have plenty of side quests, most of them were not as memorable or iconic as some of the ones from Majora’s Mask, Wind Waker, or even Skyward Sword. Many Legend of Zelda fans remember the side character’s names from the aforementioned games; however, Breath of the Wild does not flesh out most of these quest givers in a way that make them worth remembering. I would love to see a more established world in the sequel; revisiting towns, stables, and characters for more quests and developments in their lives.
#6 – The Return Of The Hookshot
The hookshot is one of the most iconic items in Link’s arsenal. It (or the clawshot) is present in most Zelda games, 2D and 3D. With a huge open-world like the one in Breath of the Wild, it is easy to imagine how fun playing with the hookshot could be. Imagine if link could just zip to the top of a nearby tree, and then proceed to jump off of it and parasail from there. The tool is also useful for pulling enemies or items to your current location.
The item has always been fun to use in any Zelda game, but I can’t help but think it would be more fun than ever with Breath of the Wild’s incredible physics engine and open-world. The possibilities are endless in such a free world. The double hookshot was almost included in the original game, and even many of the developers pushed for its inclusion. While it didn’t end up working out this time, anything is possible in Breath of the Wild 2.
#5 – Wolf Companions
Breath of the Wild had an exciting feature tied to an amiibo. This feature was the Wolf Link companion obtained through the Wolf Link amiibo. Upon utilizing the Wolf Link amiibo, Wolf Link will join you on your adventure. The twilit beast has his own heart meter and will help you in combat. One thing that always struck me odd was that there was no other type of companion in the game.
Link’s legendary horse, Epona, was also tied to an amiibo, but there were plenty of other horses in the game. So why can’t link train other wolves to help him on his quest? It seemed weird that only a non-canonical Wolf Link companion existed within the game. Nintendo programmed the wolf AI, but did nothing else with it. This always seemed a bit wrong to me. I think it would be great to see Link have more companions that can help him hunt in this wild and open world. If any Zelda game should have companions like this, it is the large world of Breath of the Wild.
#4 – Unique Bosses
The Legend of Zelda series is known for its large pool of iconic bosses. Nearly every single boss is famous (or infamous) in their own right. It is hard to imagine any boss from any major Zelda game has been forgotten by any fan. If any game should have had a diverse cast of bosses, it was the huge Breath of the Wild. The fact that there was only 4 elemental variations of the Ganon throughout the game is a missed opportunity. Where are the Dodongos and Helmarocs? The game features giant spider-esque ancient robots yet Gohma doesn’t appear? It would have been nice to see a wider cast of bosses in the game. We can only hope that the sequel gives us some unforgettable boss battles.
#3 – Bigger, Interactive Towns
Breath of the Wild traded larger hub towns for an immersive and open landscape. While I would have loved to see bigger and more lively towns in Breath of the Wild, I must admit that it did make sense due to the narrative of the game. The world of Hyrule was in ruin and turmoil for 100 years. It is hard to imagine that any large structed city was still going strong in this world. So while I do forgive the last game for the lack of bigger and more interactive towns, it is time to change that.
Hopefully in the world of Breath of the Wild 2 we can see some development take place across Hyrule. Perhaps side quests will even allow us to help build and progress the development of such towns (such as Tarrey Town). This is one of my top requests for the sequel, as this would even help solve other requests on this same list. If a town is interactive and flourishing, it is very likely they will contain memorable side quests, characters, and a stronger narrative surrounding these establishments. If any Zelda game should have had more cities and interactions, it is the intimidatingly large Breath of the Wild.
#2 – Full-Scale Dungeons
The shrines implemented in Breath of the Wild are awesome. Short and thought provoking mini-dungeons were a great addition to such a large open-world game. It forced you to explore every nook and cranny of this expansive world, and it helped the world of Breath of the Wild feel alive and full. So don’t get me wrong, I do not want these to disappear by any means. In fact, the current purpose of them should remain 100% intact. Shrines should still grant orbs that grant Link more health and stamina. However, full-scale dungeons should come back full force.
Shrines and Dungeons Can Co-exist In Breath Of The Wild 2
How satisfying would it be to grind some shrines and gain more health and stamina in order to conquer the next major dungeon in the game? I think dungeons and shrines can have a co-existing relationship that allow both to function better than ever. The addition of shrines was fantastic, but let’s bring themed dungeons back in the sequel as well. Dungeons can even still be done in any order. My idea is that dungeons should rent Link the new item required to complete the dungeon right from the get-go.
A Non-linear Dungeon Order
When Link enters a dungeon he should be immediately granted the item, but only while in the dungeon. Upon completing the dungeon, Link can keep the item permanently, but if he leaves before then, the item disappears from his inventory. This can allow any dungeon to be done in any order, without allowing the player to simply enter every dungeon, grab the item, and abandon it entirely. I would love to see shrines and dungeons co-exist in Breath of the Wild 2.
Honorable Mention: Weapon Repair Shops
In Breath of the Wild any weapon besides the Master Sword (and the One-Hit Obliterator used in one quest) could break. This wasn’t a problem to me, and I think it added to the collectable nature of weapons and resources. However, it was upsetting when a cool weapon would break and I had to wait to find another one. I believe a simple fix would be to add weapon repair shops. The intended purpose of breakable weapons stays valid, but players can easily get back their beloved weapons. The shop can even require materials and rupees to repair weapons. I would refrain from using some of the coolest and rarest weapons in the game just out of fear of breaking them. This would be a great addition to the Breath of the Wild. The proposed shop could function similar to Gondo’s shop from Skyward Sword.
#1 – Co-op
This one is the least likely, but it is also the most revolutionary. While it seems to good to ever be true. Aonuma has teased the idea of co-op zelda many times in the past. The Legend of Zelda has had co-op functionality in the past, but it is always contained within a more spin-off oriented title. Breath of the Wild 2 could surpass the original game in a huge way by added co-op for the first time in an open-world Zelda game. This alone would make the game a must have for any household and any Zelda fan. As of the end of Breath of the Wild, Zelda is free to join Link on his journey and adventures.
Zelda Joins In On The Legend
There has never been a better time for Zelda to not only be playable, but actively engage in Link’s journey. The world of Breath of the Wild would feel more alive than ever if you can traverse the vast world with a friend. The game changing implications that come with this addition is why co-op is the greatest addition Breath of the Wild 2 could possibly receive.
Are you excited for Breath of the Wild 2? Hopefully we see the game announced tomorrow during the Nintendo Direct E3 2021 Presentation. Let us know what you think of this list down in the comments.
