There is a reason Breath of the Wild is as lauded as it is. With a scope never before seen in a Zelda title, as well as a level of depth and introspection rarely seen in big-budget games, it has cemented itself as a staple in modern gaming, rarely letting down those who decide to play it.
What does frustrate players, however, is how much is left up in the air once they beat the game. Seemingly, after Calamity Ganon is defeated, the story is wrapped up quickly and neatly - yet there is still much left unanswered. And with a sequel on the way, these questions only seem more pressing.
Link's Origins
It was already established that Link had an entire life before the events of BOTW. Really, he even had a life before Zelda and the Champions. So what remains of that life, aside from his house? What happened to his family? And - most importantly - does Link even care?
While his seemingly blank personality was an intentional design choice, it still left players baffled, considering the context of the world he lived in. They're therefore hoping he might have some resolution in the second game, in whatever form that may take.
Zelda's Trauma
While Link was asleep for the past 100 years, Hyrule's princess had to be awake for it all, constantly struggling against Calamity Ganon in a bid for dominance over the castle. Zelda fought completely alone, having only just awakened her powers, and with nearly everyone she knew and loved dead.
That had to have left a mark on the princess, who was already shown to be a sensitive, self-deprecating person. And after fans spent the entire game building up to her rescue, all they want to know is how she's doing now, how she's feeling, and how she'll cope with whatever the next game presents her with.
Who Are The Zonai?
Confirmed by an official sourcebook, the ruins in the Faron region, as well as the Barbarian armor set, are the handiwork of a bygone tribe called the Zonai. Their symbols seem to be scattered everywhere in Hyrule, including the ruins Link and Zelda investigate in the sequel's trailer.
This seems to lend credence to the theory that the Zonai will play a larger role in the next game, perhaps as the source of Ganon's entrapment. Others, however, have taken that theory even further, based on other visual clues during the trailer...
Return Of Twilight
As well as Zonai symbols, the trailer displays a swirling of luminescent energy surrounding Ganon's mummified corpse, accompanied by distorted music. Both of these things are classic hallmarks of Twilight Princess, leading some fans to wonder if the Twilight Realm will make its first reappearance in a very long time.
It's a question fans have been asking with each new Zelda release: when will we get to see the Twili again? Now seems a more apt time than ever, since many fans have linked the Zonai to the potential origins of the Twili. Whether or not this theory will be confirmed is yet to be seen.
Mysterious Beasts
One of BOTW's quests requires the player to track down three skeletons belonging to massive creatures called Leviathans. They have apparently gone extinct, yet their skeletal presence is still enough to merit a large degree of awe and curiosity. Even in a game as expansive as BOTW, they manage to leave an impression.
Which begs many questions: what exactly are they, and when did they roam Hyrule alive? If the game devs bothered to put their skeletons in at all, they must serve some larger purpose, which has fans excited for the possibility that they may encounter a live Leviathan in the sequel.
Oh Terrako, Sweet Terrako
In Age of Calamity, a new character was introduced: the sweet little Sheikah bot Terrako, who was given to Zelda as a gift when she was a child. The reason players don't see him in the main game is because he goes back in time and space to warn Zelda and the others of the encroaching Calamity.
But does that mean players will never see him again? Terrako was an endearing character that was the center of some fairly emotional moments in Age of Calamity. Fans don't believe it to be out of the question that he could come back to his original timeline and aid Link and Zelda once again.
Champions' End?
The Champions were an unexpected delight for fans, who fell hard for their stories and mourned them just as deeply as Link and Zelda did. Because of this, fans are hoping that their stories aren't quite over yet - and that their spirits might return in the sequel.
After all, if Ganon's spirit could be resurrected, why not theirs? With so much unresolved in their lives - from Mipha's separation from her family, to Revali's desire to prove himself - it only seems fair and natural that they get some sort of closure.
Special Feelings
On that note, there is still the question of whether or not Zelda will ever reveal her feelings for Link - if they are as deep as some characters imply. The bond between these two characters was central to the plot of BOTW, and clearly they will continue to be intertwined in each others' fates if the trailer is anything to go by.
So, will the shy princess ever muster the courage to reveal her feelings for Link? After many past Zelda titles exploring the "will they, won't they" nature of their never-ending relationship, fans are curious to see how the sequel will tackle this aspect of the current Zelda's character.
Any Feelings At All
On the flip side, there is Link, whose stoicism leaves much to interpretation. On numerous occasions, he is shown to be strongly attached to both Zelda and Mipha, with whom he grew up. And both girls have more or less admitted that they love him very dearly, to the point where Zelda risked her life in the end for her knight, and Mipha crafted him his very own set of Zora armor.
Therefore, fans are still wondering: does Link return any of their feelings, let alone acknowledge them? Or, maddeningly, will the developers once again leave this up to interpretation?
Puppy Love
Finally, there is the matter of dogs. Players were perplexed by the fact that they weren't allowed to pet all the cute dogs running around Hyrule, even though they could feed them and even find their buried treasures.
Dog petting is one of those mechanics that just makes a game feel even more enjoyable, kind of like fishing mechanics. So fans have to wonder, why wasn't such a simple mechanic added to the first game? And will they finally be able to pet each and every single dog they encounter throughout their playthrough of Breath of the Wild 2?