With the original game being an incredibly hard first act to follow, one place The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 can improve is with characters. The original Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had series mainstays like Zelda and Impa, and introduced fun new characters such as the Champions and their descendants. However, the sequel to Breath of the Wild could introduce even more returning characters to give fans a chance to see some characters that haven't appeared in a while.
The Legend of Zelda series has had a ton of characters over the years. While the core trinity of Link, Zelda, and Ganon have been in nearly every Legend of Zelda game, features like how old Link and Zelda are vary across the franchise. Characters like Impa and Tingle have recurring roles in the franchise, appearing across multiple games. However, Nintendo could go even deeper with characters to bring back for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2.
Nintendo has a wealth of characters who have only appeared in one main series game to bring into BOTW 2. Whether it's due to their popularity or how they fit into the story, there are a lot of choices for who to bring back in one of Nintendo's most anticipated games. From Skyward Sword to A Link Between Worlds, here are four characters that Nintendo could bring back from their singular appearance for Breath of the Wild 2.
Ravio Could Be A Merchant In BOTW 2
Making his only appearance in A Link Between Worlds, Ravio would be a fantastic character addition that could serve a dual purpose. If new weapon types are introduced in BOTW 2, Ravio could be a great way to introduce new weapons to the player by selling them. In ALBW, Ravio also had a mechanic where players could rent new weapons for temporary use. This mechanic of Ravio's shop likely wouldn't return, as Breath of the Wild's weapon durability system would probably complicate how a rental system could work.
Another purpose Ravio could serve would be to introduce Link and the player to the Dark World, Lorule, or an alternate version of this in BOTW 2. While nothing about any alternate world has been confirmed, this mechanic from A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds could return, especially if Nintendo decides to make a full Zelda trilogy in BOTW's version of Hyrule. This could explain the dark place that Link and Zelda were in during the initial trailer for the sequel. It could even explain why Nintendo hasn't revealed the title for the sequel yet. If the company wanted to keep the title under wraps, it could be because they don't want to spoil a Lorule connection.
Groose Would Be A Fan Favorite BOTW 2 Comeback
One of the most popular minor characters from his original game, Groose from Skyward Sword would be a fun addition to Breath of the Wild 2. In Skyward Sword, Groose serves as a rival to Link, being his main competitor in the knights' academy. Later in the game, Groose accepts that he's not the hero he thinks he is and decides to assist Link in his quest to stop Demise. He does this by building a catapult, fittingly called "The Groosenator," and stopping The Imprisoned from reaching the Sealed Temple. This sort of character hasn't been seen in Zelda since Skyward Sword's Groose and would be a fun wrinkle to add to BOTW 2.
While Groose would be a fun addition to BOTW 2, he is also incredibly unlikely. While other characters can be brought in through alternate dark worlds or other means, without the knight academy, Groose doesn't have a good means to be introduced. In ancient Hyrule, there doesn't seem to be a formal knights' academy following the Calamity. The Academy could be rebuilt by Link and Zelda in events during the sequel, but given the focus on the conflict with mysterious dark forces like the mummy shown in the trailer, it doesn't seem like this would be a doable story beat to include.
Ghirahim Could Resurrect Demise In BOTW 2's Story
Ghirahim is another character who originates from Skyward Sword. He could make an appearance in Breath of the Wild 2 as a secondary antagonist, matching the role he serves in his original game. Since the initial trailer showed a dark force getting revived, it's been speculated that the force could be Demise resurrected as one of BOTW 2's non-Ganon villains. While this revival narrative fits with a few other Zelda villains, it aligns perfectly with Ghirahim's plot in Skyward Sword, making the Breath of the Wild sequel a perfect opportunity for this beloved antagonist to return.
In addition to fitting into the plot of BOTW 2, his personality makes him a fan favorite. He was another popular character in Skyward Sword, even getting enough traction to become an assist trophy in the Super Smash Bros. series. His over-the-top and playful personality could serve as an interesting buffer for the otherwise dark tone of the Breath of the Wild sequel.
BOTW 2 Could Tie In Age Of Calamity By Including Astor
Only appearing in the spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Astor seems likely to be included in Breath of the Wild 2. His mission throughout Age of Calamity, similar to Ghirahim's in Skyward Sword, is to revive Calamity Ganon. He eventually succeeds in his mission, but at the cost, seemingly, of himself. However, it's been speculated the mummy in BOTW 2 is Astor, not Ganon.
While the end of Age of Calamity seems to end Astor's story, The Legend of Zelda series is no stranger to reviving characters. From a gameplay perspective, Astor would add some interesting wrinkles to the game. For example, in Age of Calamity, Astor can summon dark versions of the Champions, called Hollows. The Hollows could serve as challenging boss fights for Link in BOTW 2. While the original Breath of the Wild had some fun boss fights, they were all quite large in scale. In comparison, the Hollows could serve as challenging, smaller-scale boss battles for the player to overcome.
BOTW 2 will almost surely see a variety of characters from the first game return. Link, Zelda, and Impa are all expected to return, with others like Purah likely to reappear as well, although a possible time jump in BOTW 2's plot might change that. However, BOTW 2 also has an opportunity to bring back some of the franchise's favorites that have been confined to their original mainline games and spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors. Ravio, Groose, Ghirahim, and Astor could all make interesting additions to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, and would make the sequel even more exciting to the franchise's longtime fans.