So far,Tears of the Kingdomhas shown off many new abilities and locations, ranging from vehicle crafting possible through Ultrahand to some sort of companion system, and possibly elements of equippingTears of the Kingdom’s Hyrulein its fight against Ganondorf. Much of what fans have seen appears to be from the beginning and middle sections of the game, with later parts and the general story remaining unknown. It’s these questions that will likely be on players' minds once they enterTears of the Kingdom, especially one that defines how and where the endgame can be tackled.
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Hyrule Castle Has Been Many Zelda Games’ Final Destination
As soon as Link is able to leave theGreat Plateau inBreath of the Wild, he is given a single quest: defeat Ganon. This task focuses all ofBotWon a single, clear goal. Calamity Ganon lies within Hyrule Castle, and the land will not be truly safe until Link defeats him. It will be an uphill battle, but fortunately, the player can tackle it at any time. Despite housing the endgame,Breath of the Wildmade the bold decision to make Hyrule Castle accessible almost immediately, the only deterrent being a surplus of strong enemies.
Things might go differently inTears of the Kingdom. It appears that Ganondorf is still settled in Hyrule Castle, but this time it has been lifted into the sky. A recent commercial actually showedTears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule Castle in gameplayfor the first time, with it floating lower than some fans expected. The player also declares that it’s where they need to go, as they are gliding towards it from above. Speculation from this brief glimpse is inconclusive, especially as it’s unclear whether the castle is protected by height alone or a Malice barrier. However, thinking thatTotKwill simply reproduceBreath of the Wild’s ending is selling it short.
Tears of the Kingdom Could End Almost Anywhere
There’s no telling whether the finalbattle inZelda:Tears of the Kingdomis fought in Hyrule Castle or not. It’s definitely set apart as if it’s the final dungeon, but the story’s unknown factors could dramatically affect the setting for the finale. Speculation of time travel has been ramping up since the final trailer, and that means that a final confrontation in Hyrule Castle may not be the end of things. In fact, it could just be the beginning.
At the end ofTears of the Kingdom, Link could find himself anywhere from directly beneath the Blood Moon or within the underground home of the Demon Tribe. It could be in a past equivalent to Hyrule Castle, on the Great Plateau, or just in Hyrule Field. Helping out Hyrule’s people in major quests could allow Link and his allies to launch a full-scale assault on Hyrule Castle that pushes Ganondorf into the open like howfreeingBotW’s Divine Beastswould weaken Ganon.
Last, but not least, is the possibility that this Ganondorf is a tragic figure, and the player’s understanding and battle with him could be changed by gathering all ofTotK’s equivalent to Memories. The possibilities feel endless forTears of the Kingdom, and fans won’t have to wait long to see them unfold.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwill be released on May 12 for the Nintendo Switch.
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