As 2023 comes to a close, many will debate the true “Game of the Year.” We know what The Game Awards thought about the subject, but others aren’t as clear cut. For many others, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is the best game from this year. Whether it is or not is up to you, but the game’s depth is not to be ignored. It had a vast expanse to explore alongside two new realms above and below you to check out. Plus, the game’s story had plenty to offer, with many secrets and hints buried within.
While we won’t spoil everything about the game, Tears of the Kingdom director Hidemaro Fujibayashi did an interview about the game’s story and revealed some insights that you might have missed. Nintendo Everything translated the interview and noted how Fujibayashi revealed why Rauru was able to seal away Ganondorf and how Ganon was able to break free:
“In that cutscene, Rauru used his sealing powers to draw out Ganondorf’s magic from his heart and purify it. The released purified magic became a spiral of light. Also, this has to do with the lore of Hyrule Castle, but the original Hyrule Castle was not at that location. We see Ganondorf sealed right under the place of Hyrule Castle in our heroes’ time, which was the best location to keep him sealed. It is like a “dragon vein”*. And Hyrule Castle is one part of the barrier that helps release Rauru’s purification of the evil magic.”
The director went on to note that Hyrule Castle during Rauru’s time wasn’t where it was when Link and Zelda were around, and that’s because the people of Hyrule would “construct” their realm to help boost the seal that was placed around Ganondorf. But, when Calamity Ganon arose and destroyed Hyrule Castle in the previous game, the seal began to weaken.
And lest you think that was the only thing Rauru was good for, Fujibayashi nixed that idea later on. He revealed that all the shrines that you visit aren’t just random entities. They were places where Rauru and Sonia, his wife, had defeated demons that roamed the land before Ganondorf. He put the shrines there to ensure that demons couldn’t return to those spots. That’s why they are filled with the energy needed to help cure Link of the curse that Ganondorf gave him.
Just goes to show that there’s always more to a story than one thinks.
