The Legend of Zelda showrunner Eiji Aonuma dropped a bombshell in the fallout of their reveal of The Legend of Zelda Wii U from Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event. He’s heavily hinted that the character in the trailer might not be Link at all.
In the Digital Event, Aonuma explained that the theme for the new game would be reexploring the conventions of theZelda franchise overall. He then talked about one such convention, the idea of creating a vast explorable world, and how it became progressively harder to do this, particularly in the jump to 3D. As a result, games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker had to have multiple defined areas with points of entry and exit. The sum of those parts would make you feel like you were in a larger world.
However, Aonuma did not want to repeat this trick for the Wii U Zelda, and so the latest game will offer a true open world. It will be a world where you can enter any area in any direction. However, unlike games like Grand Theft Auto, you aren’t held by the hand to your next destination and mission. Instead, finding your way to your next destination will itself be a puzzle. Aonuma also promises powerful enemies in a seemingly peaceful world, a convention he wants to keep.
Based on a surface look of the trailer and the character in it, he (or she) takes visual cues from both Link (shirt) and Zelda (ponytail) from multiple games. Now, let’s sweeten the pot even further.
Shane Luis of RerezTV put forward his observations from the trailer, noting that the character has a non-Link ponytail. He also thought the character did not have a sword, and while he/she didn’t wear one on their belt, it was, in fact, attached to the bag he/she was holding.
Does Link usually have a pony tail? pic.twitter.com/dn2Kj1wwOo
— Shane Luis (@RerezTV) June 11, 2014
Link usually has a sword. In this sequence this character does not. pic.twitter.com/ESgtVd8Gi4
— Shane Luis (@RerezTV) June 11, 2014
@RerezTV Here's a screenshot someone posted. pic.twitter.com/rr2zRvow0p
— Todd (@toddwog) June 11, 2014
So, where do you guys stand on this? Some people think it’s Zelda herself, and others think this could be Link’s and Zelda’s kid. Do you have another theory? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. For your convenience, we’re sharing the trailer again in full 3D below.
The Legend of Zelda Wii U is coming next year.
