The recent rerelease of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has reignited conversations about the game’s implications for the Legend of Zelda series as a whole and what it could mean for Breath of the Wild 2. As the first entry in the official Legend of Zelda timeline, Skyward Sword's narrative is important to all other entries in the series. There are many theories about elements from Skyward Sword that may be in the upcoming BOTW 2, and one of the most exciting of those is that Loftwings will make a return.
Loftwings are giant bird companions that residents of Skyloft use to fly between sky islands in Skyward Sword. Every Hylian pairs with a Loftwing through a cultural, coming-of-age ritual under the statue of the goddess Hylia. Loftwings are viewed as gifts from Hylia as a sign of her protection, and once Hylians are paired with a Loftwing, their bond is for life.
BOTW 2 will take place, at least partially, in the sky. The 2021 teaser shows several similarities between the two games which could hint at the return of Loftwings to the Legend of Zelda series, even though the birds have not been seen in any game other than Skyward Sword. In particular, a snippet shows Link skydiving to the islands, reminiscent of how Hylians dismount their bird companions. The inclusion of Loftwings in BOTW 2 could bring exciting game features that would allow Hyrule to feel fresh and expansive once again.
The Return Of Loftwings Could Make BOTW 2 An Entirely New Experience
There are numerous references to Skyward Sword in BOTW, which speaks to the two games’ connection. There is even a young villager in BOTW who references Loftwings specifically by telling Link she dreams of going to a land in the sky and riding a giant bird. The Breath of the Wild 2 teasers so far have shown a few new creatures in Hyrule. It is possible that Loftwings will similarly be introduced, especially if the popular BOTW2 time travel theory, or the theory that BOTW 2 will complete the timeline, are accurate.
One of the biggest critiques of Skyward Sword is that there is not much to explore in the sky when riding a Loftwing. However, BOTW has a huge map full of discoveries and it is likely Breath of the Wild 2 will be the same. Loftwings can aid in exploration in addition to traversal by providing different vantage points. They could even have stamina wheels like Link has in BOTW that can be expanded throughout the game to fly farther distances or to higher sky islands. In this way, Loftwings could even replace horses, which some players prefer not to use anyway.
Loftwings could also greatly enhance battle. Bokoblins have been known to ride a variety of mounts in BOTW. Perhaps they may steal a Loftwing to ride as well. Sky battles would be especially exciting since Link could jump off his Loftwing and slow time to get the perfect arrow shot on an opponent. If all of this is true, there are also numerous advantages that the Skyward Sword Loftwing amiibo could provide. The return of Loftwings to the Legend of Zelda series in Breath of the Wild 2 would make the game an entirely new experience from the first game, and possibly an even better one.