Even with the game just a few months away, fans are still grasping at details concerning The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo has been keeping solid details about how this Breath of the Wild sequel has changed under wraps, teasing out scattered tidbits with each new trailer. While there is a rough understanding of the gameplay and story, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will likely remain an enigma until it gets a dedicated Zelda Direct close to its launch.
Until then, the Zelda community has a scattered assortment of trailers, teasers, and rumors to analyze. The full extent of Link's new arm-based powers and what the canisters hanging from his belt do are still a mystery, as are many other aspects like weapon durability and dungeons. Some form of Zelda vehicle crafting, as well as potentially weapon crafting, was seen in the latest Tears of the Kingdom trailer, which marks the biggest addition yet. However, one requested feature is a holdover from Breath of the Wild's lead-up, that being the chance to play as Princess Zelda herself. While it didn't happen last time, new evidence suggests that the dream isn't dead.
What Happened to Tears of the Kingdom's Zelda?
Since the first trailer, fans have been wondering what has happened to Princess Zelda after she and Link discover what may be a mummified Ganondorf. Zelda is shown falling into a pit as Link tries to rescue her, but past that, the princess hasn't appeared anywhere else. Her words in the most recent Nintendo Direct imply a sense of hopelessness, but also ask someone to give "him," most likely Link, their power. With such ambiguity, a contingent of the fan base has been wondering if Zelda is even alive during Tears of the Kingdom.
This theory can probably be dismissed, as Zelda's dialogue implies that she's talking to Link after the incident. While it is possible that she could come back as a spirit guide like her father King Rhoam did, it's also possible that Zelda is trying to hold Ganondorf back again. The reason why the princess was absent throughout Breath of the Wild was due to Zelda using Hylia's powers to keep Calamity Ganon confined to Hyrule Castle. It's a potential outcome, but repeating that plot point would disappoint many who want to see more from Princess Zelda. Fortunately, some hints have surfaced that more may indeed be seen.
Zelda's True Role May Have Been Hinted At
One of the first things viewers saw of Tears of the Kingdom was Zelda's new design. Her hair has been cut much shorter than any of her other Legend of Zelda portrayals, and she wears similar clothes to Link's default Champion Tunic and Hylian Trousers, as well as a uniquely-patterned Hylian Cloak. It may have been this particular design that sparked such frequent discussions over whether Zelda would be playable in Tears of the Kingdom. However, one more element has now been added to Zelda's appearance courtesy of some new character art, and it could change everything.
On certain Nintendo social media accounts, new art was posted for Tears of the Kingdom. This included things like Link in his new armor set, the damaged Master Sword, and a Boss Bokoblin. Princess Zelda's art stood out, however, as it included something that hasn't been part of any marketing materials yet. The picture's caption draws attention to a device Zelda is holding in her left hand, which resembles the first game's Sheikah Slate.
It may serve the same functions, but its design is completely different, and despite appearing like a piece of Sheikah technology, it lacks the normal Sheikah eye symbol. The left hip position where Link used to keep his Sheikah Slate has been replaced by mysterious capsules, so what this new Slate is for remains unclear. It's also unclear how a new device will be relevant if Link and Zelda are immediately separated, and only Zelda finds it.
How Zelda Could Be Playable in Tears of the Kingdom
Accounting for this, Zelda may play more of an active role in Tears of the Kingdom than anyone has realized. Her strengths as an archeologist may come to the forefront, with Zelda finding herself in ancient Zonai ruins far beneath the surface of Hyrule. These would make for great cutaways to show Zelda discovering things about Tears of the Kingdom's lore, but they could also be used as dungeons. Princess Zelda could have a side campaign that players switch to whenever Link achieves some sort of milestone in his own quest. She could explore more traditional The Legend of Zelda dungeons, gaining special powers or tools that Link does not.
Much of this would revolve around this new Slate seen in her hands. Aside from being able to lift and rotate certain objects as if through Magnesis and wielding an effect similar to Stasis, Link hasn't demonstrated any of the old Sheikah Slate abilities. If Nintendo's intent is to replace the Slate entirely with Link's new arm, then a lot of puzzle-solving tools from the first game would be left on the cutting room floor. Leaning into the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity depiction of Zelda as a master of the Sheikah Slate would allow her to carry on using its old powers. While Zelda's true predicament could be anything, there's still a good chance that she could have some adventures of her own during Tears of the Kingdom.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will release May 12, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch.