Daily Debate: Should Link Have Awakened as a Sage in Tears of the Kingdom?
Posted on July 25 2023 by Michaela El-Ters
Spoiler Warning: This article and the comments section may contain spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
In Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda is titled the Sage of Light and Time. It marks the first time we’ve ever seen a Sage associated with more than one element, and while it’s cool on paper, I question if it was ultimately the best choice. Zelda’s light and sealing powers were showcased beautifully with her character arc in Breath of the Wild, and in the true ending, she mentions that her powers have dwindled in the past 100 years. Because of that, I think it would have been more fitting for Link to inherit Rauru’s powers and awaken as the Sage of Light, and Zelda would inherit Sonia’s powers and awaken as the Sage of Time.
While Zelda is commonly associated with both these elements, thematically, it would make a lot more sense for the titles to be split between her and Link; Zelda’s journey in Tears of the Kingdom revolves around the flow of time, while Link’s journey reinforces his role as the beacon of light and hope for Hyrule. In addition, Link gains Rauru’s arm and unique Zonai abilities, so it would have been a perfect fit for him to awaken as the Sage of Light. Perhaps it could have manifested as a potential gameplay mechanic or visually as an additional outfit. It feels like a missed opportunity since the rest of the Sages awaken through the guidance of their predecessors, and Rauru’s connection to Link as a mentor figure in the tutorial could have driven home their connection even further. Lastly, Link has never been a Sage before, and I think it could have been a cool way to change up the roles we usually associate with these characters while staying true to the spirit of the story of reincarnation and never-ending conflict between the wielders of the Triforce.
What do you think? Do you think Link should have awakened as the Sage of Light in Tears of the Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!
This Daily Debate was inspired by a conversation amongst our very own ZD staffers Alexandria Weber and Josh Zelinsky.
Feature art: rene0elric
Michaela El-Ters is a Senior Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She is also an Senior Writer for Boss Rush Network, and writes blogs and streams games on Objection Network. Her favorite Zelda game changes with the seasons, but the series as a whole is near and dear to her heart.
