Daily Debate: What Other Wars in Hyrule’s History Would You Like to Play in a Warriors-Style Game?
Posted on November 25 2020 by David Lasby
While there’s going to be much debate about whether Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity deserves recognition as canon, the Zelda community has reached overwhelming consensus about one aspect of the game — it’s an absolute blast to play. Smashing through waves of Bokoblins, outflanking Hinox and Lynels, and fending off hordes of Guardian Stalkers is the stuff of dreams.
Recent interviews with Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma and Koei Tecmo’s Yosuke Hayashi revealed that, while Nintendo doesn’t anticipate Hyrule Warriors becoming a regular series, they are not opposed to creating another installment if it fits with the type of story they want to tell. Specifically, Aonuma remarked, “I do think circumstances could align like this again.” If this is true, it begs the question: What other moments in Hyrule’s history would best be explored through a Warriors-style game?
There are certainly moments in Hyrule’s history that have been profoundly shaped by war. With the success of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, it seems inevitable that Nintendo and Koei Tecmo will return to the formula that has brought so much joy to the fan base. There are three instances that I think would work especially well.
The Imprisoning War: first mentioned in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, this brutal conflict started after Ganondorf broke into the Sacred Realm and, leading a group of thieves, laid his hands upon the Triforce. After slaughtering his fellow thieves and allies who helped him win the fight to attain the Golden Power, he transformed the Sacred Realm into a nightmare and launched an attack on Hyrule itself. Eventually his assault was repelled by the Knights of Hyrule and the Seven Sages trapped Ganon, sealing off the corrupted Sacred Realm.
What is most intriguing about this scenario in terms of a Hyrule Warriors game is that this particular war takes place only in the Downfall Timeline, the branch of the Zelda time continuum in which Link is defeated by Ganondorf in the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (see Hyrule Historia for further details). So in theory, turning this war into a Hyrule Warriors game would require elevating other heroes besides Link. That is not to say it would lack narrative pull though; the story of how Hyrule’s courageous knights fought nearly to the last soldier in order to repel the armies of darkness would be deeply moving, and a story I’d personally love to see play out.
Another era in Hyrule’s history that would work well for a Warriors-style game is the Hyrulean Civil War. First mentioned in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the conflict was used primarily as a means of explaining Link’s origin story. His mother, mortally wounded and fleeing the violence, took shelter in Kokiri Forest and entrusted Link to the Great Deku Tree upon her death. While not much is known about the events of this war, we do know that the outcome was a sorely unified Hyrule that was left vulnerable to Ganondorf’s evil intentions. Perhaps this era is a good fit for further development through a Hyrule Warriors game.
Finally, the War of the Interlopers, the struggle brought on by ancient Hylians attempting to gain access to the Sacred Realm, would be a fantastic opportunity to bring to life another critical moment in Hyrule’s history. As explained in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, this tribe of sorcerers was banished to the Twilight Realm. Theories abound in the Zelda fandom about what exactly happened in this conflict, and I believe it’s another opportunity for Nintendo and Koei Tecmo.
Tell us what you think! Are there other moments that would fit well with the Warriors-style gameplay and storytelling? Including the ones listed here, what would you love to see brought to life on your television screen? Share your reactions in the comments below.
Source: IGN
Featured Image: Artrobot9000
I’m a life-long fan of video games and have been playing since I got my NES in the 1980s. The Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Aliens, and Halo are some of my favorite game franchises. I write for several sites, including Zelda Dungeon, Boss Rush Network, and The Mighty. Find me on Twitter to check out my other content!
