The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom promises to bring with it a mixture of new and old. It's not clear how much of Breath of the Wild's mechanics will remain in Tears of the Kingdom, but trailer analysis has seemingly confirmed early statements that the first game’s Hyrule map will be kept. Lots of new landmarks, story developments, and opportunities to explore above and below the overworld will present themselves, but the core game that Switch and Wii U owners fell in love with will still largely be present.
What few other elements fans know will be returning include certain weapons and enemies, though they look a little different from before. The Master Sword has been broken, and a large part of Link's quest will probably involve repairing it. Meanwhile, Bokoblins, Moblins, and Stone Talus’ will all return in slightly different forms, sometimes all as part of a single moving fort. One particularly iconic enemy that was present from Breath of the Wild's original reveal trailer seems to be absent, however. The mighty Guardians that plagued players throughout Breath of the Wild may have a greatly reduced role in Tears of the Kingdom.
The History of Guardians in Breath of the Wild
The imposing mechanical Guardian is an iconic part of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. After the reveal trailer’s first look at the wide open Hyrule and Link on horseback, a six-legged Guardian Stalker emerges from the background to chase Link down with alarming speed and deadly lasers. Just about every Breath of the Wild player has a story that plays out something like this, as these mechanical monsters are far stronger than a beginner player is usually equipped to deal with.
Conceptualized as Octorocks that would dwarf Link in size, Guardians are peppered throughout Breath of the Wild in various forms. Some are smaller and some can fly, but they all pack a laser attack that even veteran players treat with care. These marvels of technology were designed by the ancient Sheikah people to repel Calamity Ganon, but he learned from this initial defeat. As the Hyrule from 100 years prior unearthed the Guardians once again, Calamity Ganon suddenly struck and took control of all of them. Aside from the Battle-Tested Guardian in Age of Calamity’s DLC and possibly Terrako, every Guardian has been subverted by Malice. Once staunch Defenders of Hyrule's peace, they are now the primary reason the kingdom fell.
Guardians Can’t Be Easily Separated From the BotW Games
It doesn't take much interacting with them to realize why Guardians are so deeply ingrained into Breath of the Wild. Their discordant piano theme and signature beeping sound effects worm their way into a player's brain and become synonymous with moments of great danger. The multiple places where Link can potentially run between several Guardians actively tracking his movements are stressful, but make for great highlights in any play session. A single Guardian, even one immobilized and stuck in the ground, can dominate a player's focus, and the smaller Sentry Guardians found in Shrines and Divine Beasts can still provide a decent challenge.
Fans have good reason to expect that Guardians will still be around in Tears of the Kingdom. They are iconic, after all, and Malice is once again seen affecting Hyrule. There are still plenty stranded somewhere or wandering in obscure locations for Link to fight. Indeed, there's a good chance that players will be able to find new types of Guardians in underground caverns. The ones present in Breath of the Wild were all canonically unearthed, and this has already been reflected in a number of them appearing inside caves and other structures that extend into the ground. Seeing some Guardians in the skies above wouldn't be unexpected, especially considering that a couple types are able to fly.
Tears of the Kingdom Will Shift Focus Away From Guardians
However, just because players will see these Guardians doesn't mean they will play the role they once did. Breath of the Wild’s incidents with Guardians at their core have passed, and the forces of evil seem to be trying some new scheme involving a massive outpouring of Malice and ruins floating in the sky. Those ruins aren't necessarily of Sheikah origin like the Shrines and Beasts were, and Tears of the Kingdom's gameplay reveal trailer hinted that a new equivalent to the Guardians may be stationed there. Even though chases and tense sneaking sections will still undoubtedly be present, Guardians won't be able to hold most of the spotlight like they once did.
Another factor in this is Tears of the Kingdom's apparent focus on the distant past. While it looks like all revealed footage may be taking place in the present, there are still heavy rumors of a bygone era that will answer some of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom's outstanding mysteries. Considering that the purpose and history of the Guardians are simple and already known, there's no reason for them to take up unnecessary time that could be given to the Zonai or the many mysterious carvings seen in trailers. Whatever the case, Tears of the Kingdom looks like it's setting up a lot of new elements for fans to discover, and those findings should be worth the wait.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled to release for Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.