In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, players have an arsenal of abilities that they can use to traverse the game's large open world. Among the abilities that can be unlocked in Tears of the Kingdom, there is one that stands out, not due to its popularity, but because of its utility. The existence of this ability opens up interesting opportunities for the franchise moving forward, and Nintendo should strongly consider taking advantage of them.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is primarily known for its Ultrahand and Fuse abilities, which give players the freedom to build a near-endless array of devices. While these abilities may hog the spotlight, they are not the only ones that can be put to good use. Ascend lets Link fly up and phase through nearly any surface, and it is certainly useful in many situations. This underappreciated ability makes the game even more enjoyable, and it would be a shame if Ascend did not return in a future entry in the franchise.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Switch 2 Edition is a Warm Send-Off for Ultrahand
Ultrahand is one of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's best features, and the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game is the perfect send-off for it.
Why the Ascend Ability Should Return in Future Zelda Games
If future Zelda games were to take anything from previous entries in the series, Tears of the Kingdom's Ascend ability is one that should be considered. As for what the power could do in future titles, there are a few opportunities that Ascend could provide:
- It would allow for the creation of new and interesting enemies, which could be designed to be addressed with the Ascend ability.
- Ascend would make it possible for future Zelda games to expand on Tears of the Kingdom's verticality, taking level designs to greater heights and resulting in more beautiful environments that aren't just limited to the ground.
- The ability could inform future entries' platforming, and sections could be created that cannot be overcome simply by jumping from one end to another and would instead require the type of creative thinking that players enjoy.
Given all that, it's clear the Ascend ability could contribute to future Zelda titles being fun and memorable. Hopefully, Nintendo will consider the idea of reusing the ability, as it could be to the benefit of the series and its fans.
How Future Zelda Games Could Bring Back Tears of the Kingdom’s Ascend Ability
It is unlikely that the next Zelda game will be a direct sequel to Tears of the Kingdom, which could make it difficult to explain the return of the Ascend ability. However, there are ways that it could be done. For one, a character in a future game could create a device that provides the same functionality as the ability, and perhaps there could even be a line or two of dialogue that pays homage to Ascend. Another option would be to introduce a race that survives through the use of an ability similar to Ascend, and Link must try to learn it, justifying the ability's return. Approaches like these could give the ability life beyond Tears of the Kingdom, allowing it to reach its full potential.
The Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will give players another opportunity to appreciate the Ascend ability's functionality, and perhaps that will increase its chances of appearing in future titles. If fans realize just how useful the ability can be, and are vocal about wanting it back in future entries, then Nintendo may just give the ancient power a chance to return. The developer could also iterate upon Ascend, giving it even more utility, and perhaps it could even become more popular than the more well-known Ultrahand and Fuse abilities as a result.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- May 12, 2023
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Cross-Platform Play
- N/A
- Cross Save
- N/A
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
