It’s no surprise that the Master Sword is a crucial element to driving the main plot forward in the Zelda series. Drafted as the “Magic Sword” in the first Legend of Zelda title, the Blade of Evil’s Bane has become a staple weapon in most games since A Link to the Past. Breath of the Wild, too, featured the Master Sword in its storyline, but Nintendo made a bold move by making it the recommended — and not required — weapon for players to finish the game.
Then the sneak-peek trailer for Breath of the Wild’s sequel is a caliber all on its own. Right away we notice that Link carries the Master Sword from the previous game like it’s business as usual. And it really does seem to be business as usual — only this time, there’s a twist involving a dark dungeon, Ganondorf’s creepy corpse, and Link and Zelda getting separated. Even if we don’t know what’s going on, there’s clearly a sense of dread in the trailer. Everything that could go wrong does, and all the while, Link still has the Master Sword with him.
The fact that Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, and the Master Sword will appear in a direct Legend of Zelda sequel is astounding. This historic occurrence has never happened before in the series’ existence. The only game that comes close to it would be in The Wind Waker, a spiritual sequel to Ocarina of Time, but still an original title in its own right. That being said, the folks at Commonwealth Realm dive into the Master Sword’s potential for this unique situation. You can watch the full video below.
My favorite idea they present is the gameplay opportunities the Master Sword opens up. Taking on different elements and abilities for the sword is fresh and new, and let’s face it, that’s awesome. Story mechanics-wise, I have always admired the concept of Fi, but Skyward Sword as a whole — not so much. Skyward Sword’s story didn’t bring any benefit to the table in my humble opinion, and I’d rather not see that again in the Breath of the Wild sequel.
There is, however, an amazing opportunity for plot development with the Master Sword brought into the mix. I believe Wind Waker was the prime example. Ganondorf himself had stated the Master Sword operated as “a most wretched little key,” and while I wouldn’t exactly put it in those words, it’s an important point to think about. What state will the Master Sword be in for the Breath of the Wild Sequel? Are the Sages involved this time around? Will there be direct references to past Zelda games? Who knows. All we can say for certain right now is that much like its predecessor, the Breath of the Wild sequel is already making history — and there will be much more to look forward to in the future.
