After the success of The Legend of Zelda‘s burgeoning spin-off series, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity could pave the way for future titles that allow players to better explore Zeldas Long history. While the first game was officially out of the Zelda timeline, the second entry Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity took after the last Zelda game Breath of the wilderness, and instead focused on the war against the Calamity Ganon and his troops. Although fans expected Age of Calamity perhaps similarly non-canon, the game went to great lengths to create its own niche timeline.
Fans are still waiting for the highly anticipated Breath of the Wild sequel in the near future, but Hyrule Warriors could get a third game in a shorter amount of time if it decides to look backwards instead of forwards. With almost forty years Zelda games to draw inspiration from, Hyrule Warriors could revisit the franchise’s previous games to build on its own timeline, history, and lore. Not only would it help generate nostalgia for older players and foster appreciation for the Zelda series to a younger audience, but it might help to get a permanent spot for Hyrule Warriors as a more permanent confirmation of Zelda spell.
Age of Calamity and New Zelda Timelines
After the release of Ocarina of Time, Zelda is known for its branching timelines. Discussion around these timelines always crops up with every new game announced; the chronology of Zelda is often a staple of fan speculation. However, with confirmation from Nintendo that Breath of the Wild resolving these timelines and bringing them all together in what is determined to be their natural ending point, it seemed that this timeline tradition had come to an end.
Obviously it’s been hard for fans to let go Zelda‘s branching timelines, as current theories have focused on what new timelines might mean Age of Calamity and Breath of the Wild 2. specifically with Hyrule Warriors although, Age of Calamity frankly demonstrated that it would rework Zelda history when time travel became an important part of the game’s story, with the story focusing on changing history in order to preemptively defeat Calamity Ganon. But while fans look to the future of Zelda and how these two games can affect the progress of the series, Hyrule Warriors should look back instead.
The future of Hyrule Warriors is in the past
since the Zelda timelines are currently in a strange situation where fans aren’t sure if Nintendo will revisit its previous timelines or that Breath of the Wild and the sequel will kick off new timelines, developer Omega Force should allow Nintendo to focus on its core story before considering games that take place after that Age of Calamity. Instead of continuing the Age of Calamity storyline, Omega Force’s next move should be to revisit past games and explore unseen parts of it Zelda lore.
This just might not be a safer strategy until more is officially known about Zelda‘s future, but it can help players switch between new Zelda spell. Plus, it would simultaneously take advantage of those same players’ nostalgia going beyond just cameo-esque roles. For example, while the first Hyrule Warriors drew broad inspiration from the series, including characters from the likes of Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, Age of Calamity proven Zelda could expand with spin-offs more closely tied to the lore and legacy of the series rather than just a loose offshoot.
Future Hyrule Warriors could explore events in the series such as the Interloper War referenced in Twilight Princess or the time after Skyward Sword and Demise’s defeat, possibly a presentation of Ganon’s “first” appearance in the ongoing Zelda legacy. Diving in these areas of Zelda lore provides ample room for maneuver for Hyrule Warriors to make its mark while respecting the history of the series and the expectations of the fans. Alternative, Hyrule Warriors might consider some of Zelda‘s direct sequels like Link’s Adventure in an atypical remake, which is one of Zelda‘s earliest games back to the forefront.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is now available on Nintendo Switch.
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