Just asHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityhelped reshape and exploreZelda: Breath of the Wild’shistory, Omega Force could follow up thisZeldaspin-off with another retelling of Hyrule’s legacy through the loreZelda:Tears of the Kingdomhas now established. ThoughHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityhas a tenuous relationship to the canon ofZelda, something which was the target of speculation ahead ofZelda:Tears of the Kingdom, it still served as an interesting insight into the world beforeZelda: Breath of the Wild. So while it might remain just as non-canon as its predecessor, there is room for a potential follow-up toAge of Calamity.
However, similar toZelda: Breath of the Wild,Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomdoesn’t leave much time for a full story to unfold as many players estimate only a short while has passed between the two games. But just asAge of Calamitywas a prequel toZelda: Breath of the Wild, so too could a newHyrule WarriorsprecedeZelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Arguably, it could even exist as the ultimate prequel to the current “Era of the Wilds” thatZeldafinds itself in, withHyrule Warriorstaking its next game all the way back to the time of the Imprisoning War.
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Time Travel’s Established Role Between Age of Calamity and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
ThoughZelda: Breath of the WildandZelda: Tears of the Kingdomtell very different stories, the format between them shares a lot alike, such as Link’s discovery of a hidden past from long ago. InZelda: Breath of the Wild, this was the arrival of Calamity Ganon and its devastation across Hyrule, while it was the series of events surroundingGanondorf’s rise to powerand subsequent imprisonment inZelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Crucially, both games relegated a lot of history to the players' imaginations as the only canon established is what is seen through flashbacks or character dialogue, which is whereHyrule Warriorsseems to thrive.
While it was a different approach than players were anticipating,Age of Calamityestablishes from the start that it’s not a typical prequel as it disrupts the timeline with Terrako traveling back in time to try and prevent Calamity Ganon’s destruction. It wouldn’t be out of place then if a prequel toZelda: Tears of the Kingdomlikewise used a similar set-up, especially as it had already utilized time travel with Zelda and the Master Sword being sent to Hyrule’s past. For example, taking Zelda’s perspective intothe nextHyrule Warriorslike Terrakocould be the player’s entry point to the game.
A Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Prequel Brings New Characters, Settings, and Powers
Just asAge of Calamityhad been able to introduce the original Champions and younger versions ofZelda: Breath of the Wild’scharacters, the nextHyrule Warriorscould bring back the likes of Princess Zelda, Rauru, andthe otherZeldaSagesif set during the Imprisoning War. It would also give players a chance to see firsthand the initial war with Ganondorf that led toZelda: Tears of the Kingdom. If time travel were to factor into the game, then it would also be possible for Link and the new Sages to also appear.
But returning characters alone isn’t all a prequel toZelda: Tears of the Kingdomwould bring, as the game introduces much more to the world that was seen inZelda: Breath of the Wild. For instance, not only would the sky islands and the depths pose as potential new battlegrounds, but there would be new factions to fight, such as the Gerudo being led by Ganondorf, or the Zonai Constructs underthe direction of Rauruand Mineru. Alongside the Sacred Stones that the Sages possess, the powers it grants them, and how Ganondorf ultimately comes into possession of one, all this provides an ample scope of combat to explore.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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