The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom may be able to resurrect classic scenes and moments from past games in the series. Coming off of one of the most successful Zelda titles, there is a high bar that it will need to exceed in order to stand out. Giving players a shot of nostalgia could be just what the game needs to do so.
Tears of the Kingdom has already revealed one major detail in the form of its floating islands. In addition to giving Tears of the Kingdom's version of Hyrule a distinct look, it provides plenty of mystery as to what could be on these islands. While they could simply be TOTK's equivalent of the islands of Wind Waker's Great Sea, the floating islands could hold something far more interesting. With The Legend of Zelda being one of the most iconic franchises in Nintendo's library, Tears of the Kingdom has an opportunity to be a celebration of the games.
Tears Of The Kingdom Can Take Direct Inspiration From Past Games
One interesting way that Tears of the Kingdom could approach its gimmick is by making the floating islands relics of the series' past. When visiting them, the player could potentially come across iconic locations from previous games. With The Legend of Zelda featuring so many incarnations of Hyrule and the lands surrounding it, it would be a pleasant surprise. If Tears of the Kingdom chronologically takes place at a late point in the timeline, with most Zelda games taking place between BOTW's Calamities, then some past dungeons could have been excavated in the form of these islands. That would make Tears of the Kingdom's islands something of an archeological expedition.
Tears Of The Kingdom Could Be The Ultimate Zelda Nostalgia Trip
Taking this approach can not only revisit old dungeons from the series' past, but reintroduce them in a new style. For example, seeing the first dungeon from the original game, Level 1, aka Eagle, recreated in Tears of the Kingdom's style would be a treat for longtime fans. In addition to bringing back old dungeons, the game could also remix them in certain ways, making players find new solutions to old puzzles. This would make Tears of the Kingdom something of a tour of the series' memorable scenes. Even Ocarina of Time's infamous Water Temple could receive a triumphant recreation.
The best argument for this concept is the fact that Tears of the Kingdom's predecessor had a similar theme. Breath of the Wild took place in a Hyrule that had been ravaged by the war against Calamity Ganon's forces. The remnants of the Guardians litter the fields of Hyrule, and the return of the Divine Beasts that were supposed to be the secret weapons against Calamity Ganon is a major plot point. Breath of the Wild represented the past of its version of Hyrule returning to the present, and one of the best ways to pay respect to the series' past would be to have classic locations return in Tears of the Kingdom.
Being a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, expectations for Tears of the Kingdom are already high. By taking the strengths of not only its predecessor, but The Legend of Zelda's most famous scenes as a whole, it could become of the series' best games. Taking inspiration from the past could be the best direction for Tears of the Kingdom.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube