Prior the discharge of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom earlier this 12 months, our heads had been filled with theories about the place Link’s newest journey would match on the much-discussed timeline. We knew that it might be happening immediately after Breath of the Wild, however the place does that put it in comparison with, say, Ocarina of Time or A Link to the Past?
As it seems, TOTK didn’t present any sort of conclusive reply to this query. There are references to different video games dotted about this model of Hyrule, however nothing concrete. Perhaps the sport’s producer and director, Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi would be capable to shed some gentle on the sequence’ chronology, we thought. We had been improper.
In a current interview with Game Informer, the 2 legends of the Zelda sequence had been requested about how the event crew works with timeline questions in the course of the recreation’s early levels. While neither was in a position to say, particularly, the place TOTK slotted into issues, Fujibayashi did have an fascinating remark to make about how a lot of a consideration the Zelda timeline really is to these engaged on its growth. The reply? Not that a lot, it appears:
we realized that followers have a good time theorizing and luxuriate in fascinated by the place issues match on the timeline. That’s one thing that the event crew acknowledges and it considers, however to an extent. And I say, “to an extent” as a result of if we get too into the weeds or too detailed in that placement, it ends in sort of creating restraints for our creativity; the method of making new concepts turns into restricted as a result of we’re so tied up and making an attempt to make this match into a really particular spot within the timeline. We do contemplate it, however to not an extent the place we really feel that our growth course of feels restricted or constrained.
All in all, we might say that that is honest sufficient. Very few video games within the Zelda sequence string naturally from one to a different, and any try to drive a brand new entry right into a pre-existing hole might imply that we gamers would miss out on some candy recreation design — if TOTK was constructed to return earlier than a sure title, then additions like Ultrahand or Ascend would stand out as breaking the chronology.
One of the few issues that appears clear concerning the timeline (a minimum of, as clear because the Zelda timeline can ever be), is that Skyward Sword comes first. The recreation exhibits the creation of Hyrule as we all know it, Demise’s curse, the reincarnation cycle, however the place do TOTK’s flashbacks come into all this? Are the Zonai earlier than or after the occasions of the sport that we’ve lengthy thought of to be “the start”?
Game Informer requested Fujibayashi and Aonuma this very query too, and the previous recreation a sometimes cryptic response that leaves it as much as us, the gamers:
Obviously, there’s one thing slightly bit clearer in our minds, however after all, it could possibly be that we’re improper as effectively! [Laughs] I sort of wish to pose the concept, like in real-life historical past, you outline by the artifacts and by the info that you simply at the moment have. So inside what we’ve, there could be an accurate reply, however it could possibly be a distinct reply. So, I suppose my reply can be that it could possibly be each. Both could possibly be appropriate.
As good as it’s to be given free rein on these sorts of theories, we actually want to know the order of occasions as Fujibayashi sees them. Sure, they could be “improper as effectively,” however it might be fascinating, proper?
The interview additionally covers subjects such because the pair’s prior collaborations, speak of Ocarina of Time’s twenty fifth anniversary and the crew’s reluctance to in the future give Tears of the Kingdom a sequel. Be certain to test it out in full on Game Informer, for all of this Zelda speak.
