Summary
From early installments in the franchise,The Legend ofZeldahas depicted the Triforce as an otherworldy power, one that could change the very course of time and the world. Time and time again, Link has managed to stop whatever evil is aiming to take the Triforce for itself – which means the franchise has yet to show players just what would happen should theTriforceend up in the wrong hands from the start. This wouldn’t be the first time theZeldaseries released a game with a post-apocalyptic setting, but it would be a very different context.
Given the happy ending thatTears of the Kingdomgave players, it would be an interesting twist if the next game inThe Legend of Zeldafranchise suddenly took a dark turn, similar toMajora’s Mask, with its themes of delaying and stopping the inevitable. If the Triforce was already in the possession of the villain, one can’t help but wonder how that would affect the overall narrative and Link’s journey.
Link Could Have a Very Different Origin Story
In pastZeldagames, most ofLink’s incarnations' lives begin peacefully. InOcarina of Time, he grew up in a timeless forest nestled in the safety of the trees; inWind Waker, it was on an island with his family; inTwilight Princess, he lived a simple life in a small village. The formula usually begins when evil suddenly appears and Link finds himself on the path of the hero. Even inBreath of the Wild, it’s revealed that in early life, Link took up his father’s occupation as a knight, and grew up surrounded by friends such as Mipha.
With this in mind, Nintendo’s nextZeldagame could put him in a very different situation. Since it would be darker in tone, some darker themes could be explored. A young Link who doesn’t know what the Triforce is or what’s happened to the world would likely grow up already knowing combat – and not as an academy student like inSkyward Sword, or a naturally gifted swordsman inTwilight Princess, but possibly as someone who was taught to survive. This means at the beginning, Link could very well already know multiple advanced techniques, which could make combat more exciting from the get-go.
Hyrule is no longer Hyrule
Most versions ofGanondorfwant to rule over Hyrule and conquer the land, usually with the help of the Triforce. InOcarina of Time, he somewhat achieved that goal, but without getting his hands on the full Triforce itself. If he truly got his wish, it’s safe to say that there would be disasters far greater than just Zora’s Domain freezing over; but it may not be all that black and white.
At the end ofWind Waker, Ganondorf reveals that he envied Hyrule’s splendor after living in the harsh, inhospitable Gerudo lands, and he sought the Triforce to create a better life for his people. This led to his acts of cruelty, as he became obsessed with the Triforce. Applying this to his wish, if Ganondorf obtained the Triforce’s full power, it can be argued that a similar scenario would play out – but with the roles reversed. Potential lies in the cycle of hatred and envy that fuels the eternal struggle over the Triforce.
The Next Zelda Game Can Emphasize the Triforce’s Origins
Din, Nayru, and Farore, the three goddesses that contributed to the creation of the Triforce, weren’t mentioned inBreath of the WildorTears of the Kingdom’s lore. Rather, the Triforce was only distantly referred to as the “sealing power”. To reintroduce the Triforice with its original concept as Din, Nayru, and Farore’s gift to mortals could be an opportunity to give a wider backstory for the three goddesses. The narrative could explore questions like whether an object as powerful as the Triforce is truly benevolent, or whether the goddesses really favor the people ofHyrule. Depending on the route this hypothetical story takes, the player could find themselves at odds with the world of Hyrule in a refreshing way.
