Summary
- Next Zelda won't follow Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom
- The Wind Waker offers a unique take on Princess Zelda
- A musical instrument may be the main hook in the next Zelda adventure.
The next game in The Legend of Zelda franchise is currently in development for Nintendo Switch 2, as confirmed by series producer Eiji Aonuma, who also stated it wasn't going to be a follow-up to Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom. It's not likely to be shown anytime soon, but owners of the Nintendo Switch 2 can currently dive into one of the franchise's most compelling, fascinating entries via the online service in the form of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which was originally released for the GameCube in 2003, and took the series into a unique new direction.
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Making use of a charming cel-shaded art style and an expansive, open-ended ocean that the player explores via a sentient boat known as the King of Red Lions, The Wind Waker was a unique game for its time. And thanks to Nintendo Switch 2, it's easy to re-examine The Wind Waker, its place in Zelda history, and also explore how it could shape the next mainline entry. The classic Zelda formula isn't likely to make a return anytime soon, but there are some truly outstanding concepts and elements of The Wind Waker that Nintendo should take a second look at in order to guide Link's next grand adventure on Switch 2.
6 A Unique Take On Princess Zelda
Next Zelda Could Take A Cue From Wind Waker's Charming Pirate Princess
Princess Zelda is a mainstay in nearly every single game in the franchise, but The Wind Waker utilizes the iconic heroine in a unique way. Known as Tetra, the mischievous captain of a pirate ship, Zelda is unaware of her true lineage for a large portion of the game until the player reaches the sunken Hyrule Castle. This version of Zelda is one of the franchise's best, as she finds herself struggling with having greatness thrust upon her when the world is at its bleakest point.
Giving Zelda some sort of independence has been a theme with Nintendo lately, as evidenced by Breath of the Wild and her own solo game with Echoes of Wisdom, and The Wind Waker's execution of Hyrule's legendary princess is one to take notes from. Having Zelda not be so tied to her lineage and royal bloodline could be a compelling concept to revisit for the next entry, as it would allow for much more freedom in the way she is written and performed.
5 A Traditional Story
The Hero's Journey
While Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom revolutionized the franchise in some spectacular ways, the stories have relied less on a traditional monomyth and more on deconstructing the legend itself. As trends tend to snap back around to the beginning most of the time, where the old thing becomes cool again, it may be time to dust off the old Zelda story format and see how it works when powered by Nintendo Switch 2.
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The Wind Waker makes excellent use of the traditional hero's journey, following Link on a journey across the Great Sea that covers all the bases. With the next Zelda adventure, it could be a great opportunity to start fresh and examine how a classic story format feels in a world of more contemporary stories, as the franchise hasn't tackled much like that since Skyward Sword. The Wind Waker was one of the last Zelda games to explore this traditional storytelling structure, and using the power of Nintendo Switch 2 to explore that lost aspect of the franchise could be incredible.
4 A Musical Instrument As The Main Hook
A Symphonic Adventure Could Await In The Next Zelda Adventure
The Zelda franchise has a truly fascinating relationship with music, as it has centered it at the heart of the series in numerous entries. From Ocarina of Time to The Wind Waker, music in the Zelda series has played a pivotal role not just in setting the game's tone, but in terms of forward progression and world building. And with the next Zelda entry, it may be time to re-examine how this classic trope could be brought back into the fold.
The way The Wind Waker uses the eponymous baton in order to alter the game is still incredibly impressive, as the player can use it to adjust the direction of powerful gusts that guide the King of Red Lions, solving puzzles and enabling fast travel. With the advanced tech inside the Switch 2, it's exciting to think about how Nintendo could utilize a musical instrument as the game's main mechanic and system.
3 A Charismatic Travel Partner
The King Of Red Lions Is An Absolute Delight
Ever since Ocarina of Time, the Zelda franchise has made sure that players don't need to feel alone in the world of Hyrule, allowing Link to have a travel buddy of sorts. And with The Wind Waker, Nintendo created what is still one of the franchise's best companions withThe King of Red Lions, a sentient, talking boat that also acts as Link's main method of transportation across the Great Sea. Breath of the Wild featured no such thing, and while Tears of the Kingdom attempted to add elements of this, it wasn't quite the same.
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The way The Wind Waker uses The King of Red Lions as a traveling companion that can be used to explore and storytelling device is excellent, as he is informed by the mythology and the game's events brilliantly. As the game doesn't feature voice acting, it relies on his quirky sounds and bellowing shouts to establish his personality as a strong-willed, authoritative figure, which is where a new vision of this system could become much better. Recent Zelda titles have delved deep into voice acting, so having a chatty travel partner to play alongside Link's quiet heroism could make for an absolutely fantastic experience.
2 A Whimsical World
The Wind Waker Is Full Of Charm, From Its World To Its Menu Design
Ever since the original Legend of Zelda was launched for the NES in 1986, the franchise has cultivated a culture of whimsical adventure mixed with its own unique blend of traditional and contemporary fantasy. But if any game in the series is simply dripping with whimsical charm, it's The Wind Waker, as its cel-shaded art style and oddball sense of humor are still supremely entertaining. And that whimsy isn't just relegated to the art direction, as it extends to the character expressions and even the UI design.
Link's colorful, highly expressive character model is still amazing, and the UI design expertly blends in with the world. It feels like a natural, honest extension of the world, as opposed to the minimalist menu design of Breath of the Wild. The next Zelda game would do well to draw from this source, as the gaming landscape is in desperate need of games that look and feel this expressive, and the enhanced power of the Switch 2 would be the perfect place to explore that once again.
1 An Interesting Way To Travel The World
Exploring Hyrule Could Be More Interesting With A Permanent Mode Of Transportation
The Zelda franchise has prided itself on creating unique ways for the player to traverse the kingdom of Hyrule, but there's perhaps none as unique as The Wind Waker, as Link boards The King of Red Lions to sail the Great Sea. But it's the way that the game compounds mechanics on top of the sailing that makes it so special, as what begins as a simple boat that drifts eventually becomes a key tool for Link's adventure. As the game progresses, The King of Red Lions becomes equipped with offensive tactics via a bomb launcher and the ability to explore the depths sea with a grappling hook.
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The way the game uses tools that are gathered in dungeons to upgrade and expand the sail boat is still super impressive, and the next Zelda game could take a lot of inspiration from it in order to inform the upcoming version of Hyrule. Traveling Hyrule is always a unique experience in each Zelda game, but The Wind Waker remains one of the franchise's most compelling, as it is informed not just by its own internal mechanics, but by the systems that exist within the dungeons. Sailing feels excellent, even over twenty years later, and Nintendo would be wise to look at this GameCube classic to shape the future of the Zelda franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Released
- March 24, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Franchise
- The Legend of Zelda
- Platform(s)
- GameCube
