The Zelda franchise has been dealing with science fiction concepts since its inception. The games have always included instances of advanced technology such as the Hookshot, Bombs, and Pictograph boxes. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have continued this trend with their emphasis on Sheikah technology, including the Master Cycle Zero, a Divine Beast that Link can ride as a motorcycle. The franchise may have always had the idea of bringing Link and Zelda into a futuristic fantasy world, with concept art from A Link to the Past featuring Princess Zelda in a futuristic outfit. The increasing popularity of the cyberpunk aesthetic in gaming makes now the perfect time for the Zelda franchise to make the transition from medieval to intergalactic. The franchise’s shift towards a more sci-fi direction may be just what it needs to stay fresh and exciting.
Zelda’s Futuristic Side Emerges in Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom, the latest game in the Zelda franchise, is hinting at a new trend that leans towards a futuristic direction with its emphasis on advanced technology. This sci-fi influence is becoming more apparent, and it may just be what the series needs to stay fresh and exciting.
Breath of the Wild was a game-changer for the Zelda series as it showcased a higher level of exploration, making it a trendsetting game that still influences the industry today. Tears of the Kingdom seems to follow in its footsteps, but it’s also accentuating the sci-fi influence in the series. The latest trailer for the game features flying vehicles and crude cars, indicating a slow shift from high fantasy towards sci-fi.
In Breath of the Wild, the Sheikah people left behind advanced technology that was used to fight off and seal away Ganon over 10,000 years before the events of the game. This technology includes robotic sentries called Guardians, teleportation devices in the form of travel gates, and the Sheikah Slate, which is the source of many of Link’s abilities in the game. While past Zelda games have explored advanced technology, they have not gone beyond modern tech to the extent that the Sheikah did.
One telling difference between the Guardians and past Zelda enemies is the nature of their weapons. The smaller Guardians use energy beams that Link can carry and use, while the larger ones have lasers that fire from their eyes. In past games, enemies such as Beamos fired similar beams from their eyes, but they were Ganon’s magical creations and not the result of scientific innovation.
Overall, Tears of the Kingdom seems to be moving towards a more futuristic direction, which is a departure from the high fantasy setting and lore that the Zelda franchise is known for. With this shift, the series can explore new possibilities and keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
Advanced Technology in Zelda: From Hookshots to Flying Vehicles
The Zelda franchise is known for its medieval “swords and magic” setting, but it has always included instances of advanced technology. From the Hookshot to Bombs and Bombchus, Link’s most iconic tools are all mechanical wonders that have been used throughout the series. Even more interesting are the Pictograph boxes in Wind Waker and Majora’s Mask and the Tingle Tuner, which was reminiscent of a Game Boy Advance.
However, Tears of the Kingdom is set to take the sci-fi influence in Zelda to the next level. As a sequel to Breath of the Wild, it will continue the trend of using Sheikah technology. The Master Cycle Zero, a Divine Beast that Link can ride as a motorcycle, was introduced in the Champions Ballad DLC and was also featured in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. If the trailers are any indication, Link will have access to even more sophisticated vehicles and weapons that fire like cannons, as well as a prosthetic mechanical arm.
Interestingly, the Zelda franchise may have always had the idea of bringing Link and Zelda into a futuristic fantasy world. In Hyrule Historia, a collector’s book released in 2011, there was concept art from A Link to the Past featuring Princess Zelda in a futuristic outfit.
The franchise’s shift towards a more sci-fi direction may be just what it needs to stay fresh and exciting. In Majora’s Mask, there is a side-quest at Romani Ranch where cattle are abducted by “ghosts” using a beam of light, revealing their other-worldly nature. This instance of technology is too sci-fi to ignore and adds to the quirkiness of the game’s atmosphere.
Despite the franchise’s medieval setting, it is clear that advanced technology has always played a role in the Zelda games. Tears of the Kingdom is set to take it to new heights, with fans eagerly anticipating the game’s release to see what other futuristic wonders await them in the world of Zelda.
Zelda and the Continuation of Sci-Fi Concepts
The Legend of Zelda has been exploring science fiction concepts since its inception. Futuristic technology has always been present in the franchise, but it has often blended so well into the game’s backdrop that it never stood out as noticeable. However, in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the new technology has become too obvious to overlook. It isn’t just a matter of a few tech-based items, but rather a societal level of technology that is distinctly defined as such.
During a video detailing the creation of Breath of the Wild, the game’s Art director, Satoru Takizawa, revealed that some of the game’s designers presented the idea of a UFO coming to abduct cattle as a side-quest, similar to the one from Majora’s Mask. Although this concept was never carried out, it does show that sci-fi concepts are continuing to be explored by Zelda’s designers.
With the increasing popularity of the cyberpunk aesthetic in gaming, now might be the perfect time for the Zelda franchise to make the transition from medieval to intergalactic. As subsequent games have Link exploring civilizations in the sky, the possibility of him exploring places like space becomes more conceivable. Zelda players know that the future and past are relative terms for the series anyway; Link will always return to save Hyrule and rescue Princess Zelda no matter what time period he’s reborn into.
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