There is a very good reason why Nintendo may choose to separate Link and Zelda toward the very start of its sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. BOTW 2 is currently one of the most anticipated games on players’ radars, with many hoping to see even more from Princess Zelda when it debuts. However, it's likely the two heroes will still remain separated throughout much of the adventure.
Ever since Nintendo first revealed that it was working on a sequel to 2017’s Breath of the Wild, there has been an abundance of rumors and theories thrown around. The small snippets of footage and the glimmers of information for BOTW 2 that have been revealed thus far have pathed the way for endless speculation about what is in store next for the Kingdom of Hyrule, including the fate of its heroes.
In the very first trailer for BOTW 2, fans saw Link and Princess Zelda exploring some dark and mysterious caverns beneath Hyrule Castle. What they found there was a mummified corpse, which is likely one of Ganondorf’s many reincarnations. However, before the duo could find out more about what was going on in the murky depths of Hyrule, Princess Zelda falls down through the crumbling earth, and away from Link. But, while this was devastating for those hoping to see Link and Zelda finally team up for some sort of co-op adventure, there is actually a very good reason that may explain why Nintendo has to separate the two Hylian heroes in Breath of the Wild’s sequel.
Breath Of The Wild 2: Zelda Is Now Too Powerful For Link
Throughout The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players work to uncover Link’s lost memories, all while purging the Kingdom of Hyrule of Calamity Ganon’s destruction. The more players discover, the more it is apparent that Princess Zelda considered herself to be a failure, as she had been unable to unlock her sealing power before the calamity befalls Hyrule.
However, the final unlocked memory in Breath of the Wild reveals that during the destruction of Hyrule, and after the demise of the four champions, Link and Zelda fled across the Kingdom in search of safety. Link is shown to be wounded and unable to fight anymore, resulting in him and Zelda almost being killed by a Guardian. But, before the Guardian could release its deadly strike, Zelda’s powers were finally awakened and she managed to destroy the advancing Guardians. Her power released a wave of energy that eviscerated all enemies that it came into contact with, and it was thanks to this newly awakened power that Princess Zelda managed to keep Calamity Ganon at bay for the 100 years of Link’s slumber.
As the events of Breath of the Wild’s sequel take place at a time when Zelda should have free access to this power, she would become an unstoppable force for any advancing enemies that may be encountered in BOTW 2. This would negate the need for the players, and Link, to fight – something that is a key part of any Legend of Zelda title’s gameplay. Therefore, in order to allow for Link to take on the mantle of the Hylian hero once more, he needs to fight alone in Breath of the Wild 2 - and without Princess Zelda’s powers being readily available to aid him on their quest.