What can Age of Calamity tell us about Breath of the Wild 2?

Thanks to the demo release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Zelda fans have been able to dive into the opening chapter of the game and get their first taste of gameplay ahead of the official release. For many players, their excitement for this game isn’t just about slaying hordes of enemies or discovering new combo possibilities; They’re also eagerly awaiting the expansion of the Breath of the Wild universe. Age of Calamity gives us the chance to experience a version of Hyrule that we only previously saw through flashbacks and diary entries. Not only that, but there are many characters who we get to meet all over again, such as Impa, the Champions, and Princess Zelda herself.

In the years since Breath of the Wild‘s release, fans have left no stone unturned as they learn as much as they can about the lore of this Zelda universe. Even the most subtle hints in the game have undergone meticulous investigation. It’s fair to say that we know all that there possibly is to know (at this point) about the universe, the characters, the Great Calamity, and the battle that took place. It should come as no surprise, then, that Zelda players have already begun speculating about what will seen in the sequel — the characters we’ll meet, the enemies we’ll face, and how the story will progress.

This prequel allows us to go back and live through events that, so far, we’ve only been able to piece together using Link’s fragmented memories. But how might this insight into the past affect the next part of the story in Breath of the Wild 2?

Characters and Cultures

Since Age of Calamity takes place in a universe we’re already familiar with, players won’t be overwhelmed by the need to investigate a brand-new incarnation of Hyrule. Instead, Nintendo has the opportunity to expand upon the story they laid out in Breath of the Wild. Any new messages or revelations will stand out against a backdrop we already recognize, rather than being washed away in a sea of constant new information. In addition, players will be able to focus on the process of how the events in Age of Calamity tie together to lead us into Breath of the Wild‘s story.

A significant amount of excitement for this game is geared toward the new additions to the character list. While people are as happy as ever to see Link and Zelda, it’s the new faces that are drawing most of the attention. Age of Calamity introduces the younger versions of several Sheikah Tribe members, including Impa, Robbie, and Purah (though Purah reverts her physical self to childhood in Breath of the Wild, I’m still going to count her as younger in Age of Calamity for the sake of simplicity). It seems we’re also going to get a closer look at members of the Yiga Clan, as well as a mysterious cloaked figure and our new miniature Guardian companion. We’re set up to learn more about the history and culture of these ancient tribes, with the possibility of even discovering new (or long-lost) groups. We know that the Great Calamity came with substantial fatalities, with entire settlements falling victim to Ganon and his army — we could be yet to discover more about those that were wiped out a century ago.

Those who have dived deep into the lore of Breath of the Wild‘s universe have already begun putting together theories that would connect the sequel to events that happened thousands of years before the Calamity. For example, the Zonai tribe, though only briefly mentioned in the first game, are suspected to play a larger part in Breath of the Wild 2. If this is to be the case, there may be a couple of hints to look out for in Age of Calamity. But remember, this is all just fan theory and speculation, so please take it with a grain of salt!

A Healing Hyrule

Ganon’s defeat in Breath of the Wild marks the beginning of Hyrule’s recovery. Naturally, if the sequel takes place immediately after Zelda seals Ganon away, it’s likely that they won’t have got very far with rebuilding the kingdom. Age of Calamity, however, will show us how Hyrule used to look, which can act as a guide for how it will hopefully look again in the future. Until now, we’ve only seen Hyrule flourishing through Link’s memories; We’re much more familiar with traversing through crumbling ruins and eerily empty landscapes as a lonely traveler.

Seeing how the kingdom prospered before the Calamity could spark hope for its potential to prosper again, albeit much more gradually. That being said, looking into the past also could have more bittersweet undertones when pondering that which cannot be regained. Namely, the friends that Link and Zelda have lost. In Age of Calamity, we’ll get to fight alongside and even play as the Champions while watching the battle unfold from new angles and perspectives. Though we already know Mipha, Revali, Daruk, and Urbosa fairly well, this is the first time we’ll get to see them in close-up action, alive and kicking.

Of course, the closer we get to the Champions, the more painful it will be when we are reminded of their fate. It seems that before and during the Great Calamity, Link never had a moment’s peace. He was always surrounded by others, working to protect Hyrule Kingdom and the princess from all harm. Even when close to death, he was never alone. The contrast between his life before, so busy and full of people, with the sudden loneliness of awaking in the Shrine of Resurrection 100 years later, becomes ever more poignant. So, while it will be a lot of fun to fight and explore alongside many other characters in Age of Calamity, it’s also a reminder of exactly what Link and Zelda have lost.

As for Breath of the Wild 2, perhaps we’ll see the pair dealing with the emotional fallout of what they have been through. It’s sometimes easy to forget that they are teenagers who have lost homes, friends, and family — not to mention spending a century in stasis while the kingdom staggered onward without them. While Hyrule itself heals, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to imagine that any emotional dams that Link and Zelda are holding up will start to disintegrate. Personally, I’d like to see their recovery process just as much as the kingdom’s.

Recovered Memories

Breath of the Wild did a fantastic job of making the player feel a close connection to Link. One of the ways it did this was by having us (re)discover the world alongside him. With his memories lost, Link knows no more about the story than we do. This means that when he recovers his memories one by one, the player learns with him.

At the very end of the game, Zelda’s question to Link as to whether he truly remembers her goes unanswered. As such, we’re currently unsure as to the extent of Link’s memories following Ganon’s defeat. So far, Link has had to stitch together shreds of his past; it’s possible that in the upcoming sequel, he has managed to go beyond that and recover his memory completely. If this is the case, then the players need to be caught up to speed so that the closeness with the character is maintained. A prequel released ahead of Breath of the Wild 2, such as Age of Calamity, is the perfect way to do so.

For this reason, I believe that Age of Calamity is giving us an insight into the past in order to build a stronger foundation for the future of this universe. We still have a lot to learn about this incarnation, and much of the story is yet to unfold. By letting us in on the secrets of pre-Calamity Hyrule, Nintendo is setting us up for the next game in the series and all that will come with it.

Though it is a prequel, Age of Calamity will almost certainly hold hints as to the future of the Breath of the Wild universe. It also seems to be filling in the gaps in Link’s memory to create a solid backstory, setting us up for whatever the sequel may have in store. Though the first game gave players a huge amount of information and lore to work with, it’s now been over three-and-a-half years since it was released, meaning fans are more than ready to sink their teeth into something new.

Breath of the Wild made a huge impact on the Zelda franchise, and with at least two more games taking place in the same universe heading our way, it promises to be one of the most developed, detailed Zelda storylines to date. Age of Calamity is the next step to unlocking the past, present, and future of this Hyrule.