The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom promises to bring a mix of new and old. It is not clear how many of Breath of the Wild‘s mechanics stays in Tears of the Kingdom, but trailer analysis has seemingly confirmed early statements that the first game’s Hyrule map will be preserved. Many new landmarks, story developments, and opportunities to explore above and below the overworld will present themselves, but the core game that Switch and Wii U owners fell in love with will still largely be there.
What few other elements fans know they will return are certain weapons and enemies, although they look a little different than before. The Master Sword is broken and a big part of Link’s quest will likely involve repairing it. Meanwhile, Bokoblins, Moblins, and Talus’ Stone will all return in slightly different forms, sometimes all as part of a single moving fortress. A particularly iconic enemy that was present from Breath of the WildHowever, the original reveal trailer appears to be absent. The mighty Guardians that plagued players everywhere Breath of the Wild may play a greatly reduced role in Tears of the Kingdom.
The History of Guards in Breath of the Wild
The imposing mechanical Guardian is an iconic part of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. After the reveal trailer first takes a look at the wide-open Hyrule and Link on horseback, a six-legged Guardian Stalker appears from the background to chase Link with alarming speed and deadly lasers. just about every Breath of the Wild player has a story that goes something like this, as these mechanical monsters are much stronger than what a novice player is usually equipped with.
Conceptualized as Octorocks that would make Link smaller, Guardians are peppered everywhere Breath of the Wild in different forms. Some are smaller and some can fly, but all have a laser attack that even experienced players handle with care. These marvels of technology were designed by the ancient Sheikah people to fend off Calamity Ganon, but he learned from this initial defeat. When the Hyrule from 100 years earlier resurfaced the Guardians, Calamity Ganon suddenly struck and took control of them all. Apart from the Battle-Tested Guardian in Age of Calamity‘s DLC and possibly Terrako, every Guardian has been undermined by Malice. Once staunch defenders of Hyrule’s peace, they are now the main reason the kingdom fell.
Guardians cannot be easily separated from the BotW games
It doesn’t take much interaction with them to realize why Guardians are so ingrained in Breath of the Wild. Their dissonant piano theme and signature beeping sound effects wriggle their way into a player’s brain and become synonymous with moments of great danger. The multiple places Link could potentially run between different Guardians actively tracking his movements are stressful, but make for great highlights in any play session. A single Guardian, even one that is immobilized and stuck in the ground, can dominate a player’s focus, and the smaller Sentry Guardians in Shrines and Divine Beasts can still present quite a challenge.
Fans have good reason to expect Guardians to still be around in Tears of the Kingdom. They are iconic after all, and Malice is seen again having influence over Hyrule. There are still plenty stranded somewhere or wandering in obscure locations for Link to fight. Indeed, there is a good chance that players will be able to find new types of Guardians in underground caves. Those who are present in Breath of the Wild were all canonically excavated, and this is already reflected in some of them appearing in caves and other structures extending into the ground. It wouldn’t be unexpected to see some Guardians in the sky, especially considering that a few types can fly.
Tears of the Kingdom will shift the focus of the guards
However, the fact that players will see these Guardians does not mean that they will play the role they once played. Breath of the WildThe Guardians-core incidents are over, and the forces of evil seem to be attempting a new plan involving a massive outpouring of Malice and ruins floating in the sky. Those ruins aren’t necessarily of Sheikah origin as the Shrines and Beasts were, and Tears of the KingdomThe gameplay reveal trailer hinted that a new equivalent of the Guardians could be stationed there. While chases and thrilling stealthy sections will no doubt still be present, Guardians won’t be able to hold the bulk of the spotlight like they once did.
Another factor in this is: Tears of the Kingdom‘s apparent focus on the distant past. While it may seem like all of the revealed footage is happening in the present, there are still heavy rumors of a bygone era that will answer some of the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom‘s remarkable mysteries. Since the Guardians’ purpose and history are simple and already known, there is no reason for them to spend unnecessary time on the Zonai or the many mysterious carvings seen in trailers. Whatever the case, Tears of the Kingdom it looks like it’s setting up a ton of new elements for fans to discover, and those findings should be worth the wait.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled to release for Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.
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