Finally, after fans have waited so long, Nintendo has confirmed new key details about its highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that have sparked fresh speculation, chief among which involves the game's new green magic. Though the latest trailer showcased in September's Nintendo Direct confirms other details such as the official subtitle to the Breath of the Wild sequel and a release date for 2023, fans have been discussing the new Zelda game's reintroduction of magic. Out of all the changes anticipated for Tears of the Kingdom, a refocus on magic could be significant in some big ways.
Without explicit confirmation on how magic will factor into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom fans can only work from the various trailers that have been released so far. For example, the reveal of Link's arm being "corrupted" in some mystical way looks visually reminiscent of Sheikah technology, leading some to believe that this will be the origin and application of magic within the game. However, Tears of the Kingdom's latest trailer and new official logo could potentially change this and forge new connections to earlier games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
A Helping Hand From Sheikah Technology
The state and evolution of Link's arm is a mystery, but there are some clues that suggest a timeline of events. From the initial reveal that teased Tears of the Kingdom audiences saw Zelda and Link, without a corrupted arm, descending below Hyrule and coming across Ganondorf's mummified remains. While leaking what appears to be Malice, a green hand of spiraling magic seems to be restraining his body. The connection between this hand and Link's own is easy to make, and could suggest that Ganondorf's return is what leads to Link's transformation.
At the time of this reveal, fans immediately assumed that this hand and magic tied directly into the Sheikah who had been responsible for all the other ancient technology seen throughout Breath of the Wild. This was further supported by that same Sheikah technological designs appearing across Link's arm, implying that this technology would factor into Tears of the Kingdom and likely allow Nintendo to reset Link's abilities to refocus gameplay on new magic mechanics.
However, one snag to this interpretation is that the Sheikah technology in Breath of the Wild had been stylized with blue, not green. This may just be a design choice made by Nintendo to give Tears of the Kingdom some visual distinction from its predecessor, but it could similarly be a subtle indication that this magic may be a different, possible darker version of Sheikah technology just as Breath of the Wild's sequel was seen as a darker game. Alternatively, if this new magic is not of Sheikah origin, then one wonders where does it come from.
The Buried Legacy Of Twilight Princess
Following the latest trailer, fans have noted that the corrupted Master Sword in the game's logo bears a striking resemblance to the Twili technology last seen in Twilight Princess. Though similar to the geometric design of Sheikah technology, the Twili technology was characterized by its blue-green color and its ability to "fuse" with those exposed to it. Therefore, Link's fusion with some long forgotten Twili technology seems possible, especially when considering that Breath of the Wild and its sequel are at the far end of Zelda's branching timelines.
Savvy Zelda fans will also know that Twilight Princess' Ganondorf was ultimately slain by Link with a Master Sword to the chest. This is significant, as from the reveal trailer, it's shown that the green hand clutching at Ganondorf's chest is right where the sword had pierced. It therefore theorized that the Ganondorf in Breath of the Wild's sequel will be the same players saw in Twilight Princess, sealed away and buried deep beneath Hyrule. It's possible that the Twili had done this following the events of Twilight Princess, but with Malice now leaking from the wound this seal could finally be weakening.
With all these things considered, it could be more likely that the green magic seen in Tears of the Kingdom is not of Sheikah origin but instead from the Twili. How this will manifest and factor into the game if true remains unclear, but it could add new depth to the lore of Zelda between Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Twilight Princess. Connecting Twilight Princess to the upcoming Tears of the Kingdom will only heighten players' anticipation, drawing in both Twilight Princess fans and Breath of the Wild lovers alike.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.