Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityis something of an oddball as far asZeldagames go. There’s plenty of precedent for sequels and spiritual successors as far asZeldagames go, but there isn’t as much precedent for direct sequels to specific games. There’s even less precedent for a direct prequel to come in the form of a spin-off game that takes Link and his allies into a completely different genre. Even so, that’s whatHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityis doing. It’s stepping back into a very different game space, which is as good for the story as it is surprising. BreakingZeldaconvention allowsAge of Calamityto approach characters and narrative in a new way.
Unfortunately for fans, the new approach to characters might actually come at a loss as far as certain hopes for theBreath of the Wildsequel are concerned. Somefans were hopeful thatBreath of the Wild 2might surprise everyone by introducing a relationship building and dating system to the game. The firstBreath of the Wildwas filled with memorable, lovable characters like the Zora prince Sidon and the traveling bard Kass. The problem is, considering the level at whichAge of Calamitywill focus on Link’s relationships before the fall of Hyrule, it doesn’t seem likely that Nintendo will make it a priority for the next game.
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Age of Calamity: Love and Loss
Breath of the Wildwas built in large part on Link’s memories of his fallen friends and the legacy that his fellow Champions left behind.Age of Calamitypromises to take that one step further by bringing Link back to a time when the Champions were all still alive. If the trailers are to be believed, the game will largely be about Link meeting his teammates, developing a relationship with them, and learning to work togetherto stop Calamity Ganon. It’ll be a game inherently emphasizing the importance of Link’s friendships with these people and how devastating their deaths really were.
Age of Calamitywill emphasize relationshipsthrough a game in a very different style from usualZeldagames. That makes it seem like Nintendo is reserving intense personal bonds between Link and supporting characters of all kinds for a different type of game. Its design philosophy forZeldagames and Link’s means of interacting with people might simply have no room for a dating system. That kind of RPG element would definitely be a big change for a series of games better known for its action-adventure style. Even thoughBreath of the Wildindicated that theZeldafranchise is capable of change, this particular change looks increasingly unlikely.
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BotW2: Building a Future
If there’s one light in the dark for fans hoping to see Link fall in love, it’s the implication that his bond with Zelda is going to grow stronger than ever. The loneBreath of the Wild 2trailer from last year suggested that she’ll be working together with Link now that he’s freed her from her century of struggle with Calamity Ganon. Maybe Nintendo has a narrative in store that will let Zelda and Link finally fall into a canonical relationship. That hasn’t happened in nearly35 years ofZeldagames, so a lot of fans faithful to this classic character pairing would probably be elated to see Link and Zelda have a future together as more than friends and allies.
As for a broader system of choice, however, the odds are slim. Nintendo would really be breaking the mold if it introduceda confidant system a laPersona,especially if it included options for romance. Link has always been represented as a stoic, courageous, and loyal individual focused on his mission to save the world from various threats while also being happy to help people around him. Romance has never seemed like something that’s on his mind. Until that changes, fans will have to be happy with Link reflecting on his platonic love for his fallen fellow Champions.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityreleases on November 20th for Nintendo Switch
