The Legend of Zelda collection has all the time been identified for its heroic fantasy tales, even when a few of these tales observe a easy hero’s journey construction. But Tears of the Kingdom takes the franchise’s narrative ambitions to a brand new degree. It tells a sprawling epic that spans eras, digging into the misplaced historical past of Hyrule. It’s an essential installment for the collection — one which’s positive to confuse the heck out of anybody who fancies themselves a “Zelda timeline” historian.
With all of the time-jumping shenanigans and the heaps of lore, it may be slightly onerous to maintain the occasions of Tears of the Kingdom straight. Whether you’re seeking to make clear some story beats or are simply keen on seeing the place the story goes, we’re right here to assist with a rundown of each the essential story and ending of Tears of the Kingdom.
It goes with out saying that the next article comprises spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (in addition to the ending of Breath of the Wild). I’ll be going by means of what occurs within the recollections scattered round Hyrule, in addition to some content material tied to quests. That consists of the ending, however I nonetheless extremely suggest enjoying the sport to its finish, as its closing gameplay sequence is value experiencing firsthand.
Link’s story, defined
Tears of the Kingdom takes place after the occasions of Breath of the Wild, wherein Link efficiently defeats Calamity Ganon. It’s not precisely clear how lengthy after that battle we decide up from, however it appears that evidently a couple of years have handed. In any case, the story begins with Link and Zelda exploring the depths of Hyrule. They uncover a couple of key issues down there, together with a purple substance known as gloom that’s infecting Hyrule.
The greater discovery, although, is a set of murals depicting an occasion known as the Imprisoning War. That battle noticed the traditional individuals of Hyrule (the misplaced Zonai race) preventing the Demon King Ganondorf and sealing him away. While The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past additionally had an Imprisoning War with an identical premise, the occasion in Tears of the Kingdom seems to be its personal factor completely. Shortly after that, Link and Zelda really discover the imprisoned corpse of Ganondorf, which has been sealed with a tear-like stone. That doesn’t final lengthy.
Ganondorf springs to life, which causes Link to attract the Master Sword – a weapon highly effective sufficient to defeat him. Unfortunately, Ganondorf makes use of the gloom to destroy each the sword and Link’s arm. Most notable in regards to the scene is that Ganondorf in some way is aware of who Link and Zelda are, mocking somebody named Rauru for placing their religion in Link. With the heroes thwarted, Ganondorf raises Hyrule Castle into the sky. Zelda falls into the blackness under earlier than disappearing with a yellow flash, whereas a mysterious blue arm brings Link to security on the Sky Islands above.
We study that Link was saved by the spirit of Rauru, an historical Zonai creature who was the primary king of Hyrule. It seems Ganondorf destroyed Link’s arm within the encounter, so Rauru changed it with a mechanical one which he’s in a position to talk by means of. After finishing a couple of shrines, Rauru leads Link to the Temple of Time, the place he locations his destroyed Master Sword on a pedestal. It disappears, however in some way reappears in entrance of Zelda in the identical location.
Before I dive too deep into Zelda’ story, let’s get the simple half out of the best way. Link should defeat Ganondorf by regaining his energy and investigating some mysteries in Hyrule. He goes to totally different cities and helps the varied races take care of points brought on by the gloom (the Zora’s water is poisoned, for example). As he explores, he meets the ancestors of the those who imprisoned Ganondorf initially: Sidon, Tulin, Riju, and Yunobo. Each character inherits their ancestors’ sage powers and tear stone throughout the primary story, vowing to assist Link within the closing battle.
After gaining these allies, Link ultimately learns that there was a secret fifth sage as effectively. A protracted questline ultimately takes him to an underground forge the place he meets the spirit of a Zonai named Mineru, the elder sister of Rauru and the spirit sage. Link creates a mech out of Zonai units, which Mineru is ready to inhabit, permitting her to struggle alongside the opposite sages within the battle in opposition to Ganondorf.
With all of the items in place, Link has assembled a small military able to storming Ganondorf’s sky citadel. There’s only one downside: Where the heck is Zelda?
Zelda’s story defined
Here’s the place issues get slightly unusual. There’s a doppelganger model of Zelda operating round Link’s time inflicting mayhem that doesn’t seem like the actual princess.
It seems that when Zelda was separated from Link, she traveled again in time. She reemerges in historical Hyrule and meets Rauru and his spouse, Sonia, who take her in. That’s how she will get the destroyed Master Sword, which has in some way traveled again in time too. Zelda is decided to get again to her time, however the king and queen don’t know the way she will. They recommend she communicate to Mineru, who mentions that she may doubtlessly return by means of a course of known as dragonification. That happens when somebody swallows a tear stone, turning them into an everlasting dragon. Zelda may theoretically do this and return to her time just by residing lengthy sufficient, however the course of is strictly forbidden because it’s irreversible.
In the meantime, Sonia trains Zelda to harness the time powers she seems to own. The princess additionally tells Sonia about Link, the hero from her personal time who has the ability to struggle darkness. That winds up being a vital element.
It seems that each one of that is occurring in the midst of the Imprisoning War. Ganondorf launches an assault on Hyrule and is thwarted by Rauru. In defeat, the Demon King notices Rauru’s tear stone. Ganondorf pledges his allegiance to Rauru in Hyrule court docket, however that’s merely a ruse to get nearer to his energy. The Demon King tries to trick Sonia by sending a gloom-creature disguised as Zelda to fulfill along with her. She sees by means of the ruse, however Ganondorf stabs her within the again, kills her, and steals her stone. That really transforms him into the Demon King, forcing Rauru to retreat with Zelda as Ganondorf calls a military of monsters to Hyrule.
From there, we get extra backstory on the unique sages. Rauru calls the 5 Link met collectively, in addition to Zelda, and offers every their very own stone. They pledge their allegiance to Rauru and grow to be the sages sworn to defeat Ganondorf. Zelda tells Rauru that Ganondorf is alive in her time, so she is aware of no matter they do gained’t really defeat him. Their solely hope is to stall him and go away the remainder to Link sooner or later. That’s precisely what occurs, because the sages seal Ganondorf and Rauru sacrifices his life within the course of.
Tears of the Kingdom ending, defined
All of that units the stage for an epic closing act the place time actually will get screwy. With Ganondorf imprisoned, Zelda nonetheless must discover a means again to her time with a restored Master Sword. It seems that the weapon may be repaired, but it surely’ll take a very long time because the blade must be bathed in gentle for some time. She finds a approach to kill two birds with one stone — and I imply that fairly actually.
Zelda places Mineru’s spirit into her Purah Pad and entrusts it with an historical Zonai who will give it to Link sooner or later. Then, she swallows her secret stone and grabs the destroyed Master Sword proper earlier than she transforms into an everlasting dragon. With the sword stabbed into her head, her gentle energy is ready to restore the blade over the course of centuries as Zelda lives lengthy sufficient to return to Link’s timeline. Link ultimately discovers all this and pulls the mounted sword out of Zelda’s head.
With 5 sages and a set Master Sword, Link heads to Hyrule Castle to defeat Ganondorf. It seems that he’s not really within the sky fortress although; he’s within the depths under the floor. Link and the sages dive down and launch an assault on Ganondorf’s military (if you happen to haven’t gotten all of the sages, Link additionally has to struggle the bosses on the finish of their temples too). After clearing out the military, Link and the sages battle Ganondorf.
On the brink of defeat, the Demon King pulls one final transfer: he swallows his personal stone and turns into a dragon himself. Luckily, Link has a dragon of his personal to assist him. Dragon Zelda swoops in and assists Link as he destroys Ganondorf for good. Link then makes use of Rauru and Sonia’s energy saved in his arm to revive Zelda again to her human kind. The two collect again on the Temple of Time with the brand new sages and Mineru formally entrusts the dominion of Hyrule to them.
That’s the place the glad ending leaves off. There isn’t a lot of a sequel setup apart from Zelda and Link swearing to guard Hyrule once more with new sages at their facet. It isn’t clear if the subsequent Zelda sport will proceed that story or bounce into a brand new a part of the timeline, however Tears of the Kingdom does tie off the story neatly. Perhaps we’ll get extra lore in a single closing musou spinoff like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out now on Nintendo Switch.
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