Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is something of an oddball as far as Zelda games go. There’s plenty of precedent for sequels and spiritual successors as far as Zelda games go, but there isn’t as much precedent for direct sequels to specific games. There’s even less precedent for a direct prequel to come in the form of a spin-off game that takes Link and his allies into a completely different genre. Even so, that’s what Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is doing. It’s stepping back into a very different game space, which is as good for the story as it is surprising. Breaking Zelda convention allows Age of Calamity to approach characters and narrative in a new way.
Unfortunately for fans, the new approach to characters might actually come at a loss as far as certain hopes for the Breath of the Wild sequel are concerned. Some fans were hopeful that Breath of the Wild 2 might surprise everyone by introducing a relationship building and dating system to the game. The first Breath of the Wild was filled with memorable, lovable characters like the Zora prince Sidon and the traveling bard Kass. The problem is, considering the level at which Age of Calamity will focus on Link’s relationships before the fall of Hyrule, it doesn’t seem likely that Nintendo will make it a priority for the next game.
Breath of the Wild was built in large part on Link’s memories of his fallen friends and the legacy that his fellow Champions left behind. Age of Calamity promises to take that one step further by bringing Link back to a time when the Champions were all still alive. If the trailers are to be believed, the game will largely be about Link meeting his teammates, developing a relationship with them, and learning to work together to stop Calamity Ganon. It’ll be a game inherently emphasizing the importance of Link’s friendships with these people and how devastating their deaths really were.
Age of Calamity will emphasize relationships through a game in a very different style from usual Zelda games. That makes it seem like Nintendo is reserving intense personal bonds between Link and supporting characters of all kinds for a different type of game. Its design philosophy for Zelda games and Link’s means of interacting with people might simply have no room for a dating system. That kind of RPG element would definitely be a big change for a series of games better known for its action-adventure style. Even though Breath of the Wild indicated that the Zelda franchise is capable of change, this particular change looks increasingly unlikely.
If there’s one light in the dark for fans hoping to see Link fall in love, it’s the implication that his bond with Zelda is going to grow stronger than ever. The lone Breath of the Wild 2 trailer from last year suggested that she’ll be working together with Link now that he’s freed her from her century of struggle with Calamity Ganon. Maybe Nintendo has a narrative in store that will let Zelda and Link finally fall into a canonical relationship. That hasn’t happened in nearly 35 years of Zelda games, so a lot of fans faithful to this classic character pairing would probably be elated to see Link and Zelda have a future together as more than friends and allies.
As for a broader system of choice, however, the odds are slim. Nintendo would really be breaking the mold if it introduced a confidant system a la Persona, especially if it included options for romance. Link has always been represented as a stoic, courageous, and loyal individual focused on his mission to save the world from various threats while also being happy to help people around him. Romance has never seemed like something that’s on his mind. Until that changes, fans will have to be happy with Link reflecting on his platonic love for his fallen fellow Champions.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity releases on November 20th for Nintendo Switch
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