Here’s a guide to some of the easter eggs players can uncover in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. When the much-anticipated and twice-delayed Breath Of The Wild was finally released in early 2017, it turned out the game was more than worth the wait. Hailed as a masterpiece by many a critic, the game was praised for its pioneering open-world gameplay and breathtaking visuals. Alongside winning a ton of awards, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild also went on to rank as the best-selling game in Nintendo’s Zelda franchise.
Set towards the end of the Zelda timeline, Breath Of The Wild sees an amnesiac Link awaken from a 100-year slumber to find the kingdom of Hyrule in ruins. There, Link learns Ganon has grown strong while sealed in Hyrule Castle and is tasked with defeating the legendary Zelda boss before he can break free and destroy Hyrule.
Thanks to the success of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, a direct sequel is currently in development and set for a tentative 2020 release date. As Zelda fans await the as-yet-untitled sequel’s release, let’s take a look back at some of the many Breath Of The Wild easter eggs players can find in-game.
The Opening Shot Throwback
One of the first easter eggs in Breath Of The Wild, the opening shot of the game sees Link standing on a cliff edge staring out over the Great Plateau. The shot deliberately mimics the original concept art for the very first Legend Of Zelda game released in 1986.
It’s Dangerous To Go Alone
Thanks to a very dedicated Zelda fan translating Breath Of The Wild’s Sheikah language, it transpired the columns of text that pour out of map markers when viewed through the scope read the words “It’s dangerous to go alone.” The phrase is a direct reference to the advice Link is given by the Old Man in 1986’s Legend Of Zelda.
All Your Base Are Belong To Us
Another Breath Of The Wild easter egg that emerged thanks to Sheikah-to-English translation was the phrase “All your base are” which appears on Link’s Sheikah Slate when it’s being updated. It’s a nod to the infamously mistranslated phrase “All your base are belong to us” which appeared in 1989 game Zero Wing and became a popular internet meme.
Tribute To Satoru Iwata
One of the most heartwarming easter eggs in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild came in the form of a homage to late Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata who died in 2015. Look closely at the NPC named Botrick that Link meets on the roads to the Outskirt Stable and you’ll find his square-rimmed glasses and haircut look suspiciously like Iwata’s.
Nostalgic Locations
A whole host of map locations in Breath Of The Wild hark back to locations and characters from previous installments in the Zelda franchise. For example, Koholit Rock and Toronbo Beach are a nod to the locations Koholint Island and Toronbo Shores in 1993’s Link’s Awakening while Mido Swamp is a reference to the character Mido from Ocarina Of Time.
Oman Au Shrine
Satoru Iwata isn’t the only Nintendo legend that got an easter egg homage in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. Oman Au is the first shrine players encounter and its name is an anagram of the surname of Eiji Aonuma, the current producer of the Zelda franchise.