TBA@E3
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD 2
Developer/publisher Nintendo (EPD) Format Switch Release TBA
That surely won’t be its title. But either way, the next mainline Zelda will be a sequel to a game that remains Switch’s finest hour. There were enough clues in the accompanying snippets of what looks awfully like the game’s opening cinematic that the closing 15-word caption (‘The sequel to The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is now in development’) was hardly needed. Nevertheless, in an already packed Direct, it comes as no great shock that this was the moment that provoked the most excitement. Telling, too, that Nintendo deemed it worthy of its final surprise – breaking its habit of waiting to show off games until they’re reasonably close to release. But then Breath Of The Wild was no ordinary game, and this, by the looks of things, is no ordinary follow-up.
It could yet be closer than we think, though we’re not getting our hopes too high. There is a precedent, of course: Majora’s Mask was built upon the same foundation as its predecessor, arriving a mere two years after Ocarina Of Time – although, granted, we’re not in the low-poly N64 era any more. This, too, looks like a follow-up of a darker hue, and we’re not just talking about the caverns beneath Hyrule Castle, where this introduction appears to take place. The poisonous Malice unleashed by Calamity Ganon hasn’t gone away, the sentient sludge claiming an unfortunate rodent. And it’s swirling around a skeletal figure whose head suddenly snaps towards the camera, eyes glowing red. Ganondorf? Perhaps.
There are a few more hints. A glowing hand (reminiscent of Midna’s prehensile hair) appears to be holding back the Malice – Link is controlling it, which suggests a brand-new power. He’s carrying the Master Sword, all but confirming that this will be set after the events of Breath Of The Wild. And Zelda, who features prominently, has had a haircut. Cadence Of Hyrule might have beaten Nintendo to the punch, but we’d welcome the opportunity to play as the princess at last.
Whatever Nintendo has in store, let’s not forget that this will be the first new Zelda game to be built specifically for Switch. Breath Of The Wild’s Wii U origins were evident in the Sheikah Slate, which had to be adapted for the newer hardware. Though Nintendo’s desire to cater to handheld and TV mode simultaneously may rule out any IR pointer or motion-centric mechanics – beyond, presumably, optional gyro aiming – the prospect of a Zelda tailored towards the console’s capabilities is mouthwatering. Another Edge 10? We wouldn’t bet against it.
ELDEN RING
FromSoftware Bandai Namco Entertainment PC, PS4, Xbox TBA
