The wait may be over. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the 2017 Game of the Year Winner, propelled the Nintendo Switch into a fan-favorite console. This game has it all: stellar graphics, a captivating story, and challenging gameplay. With all of the excellent features of this game, it makes total sense that fans are clamoring for more.
Fortunately, there are some rumblings that Breath of the Wild 2 could make its way onto the Nintendo Switch (maybe Pro) this year.
So, what can you expect with this new title? Here are five rumors we hope are correct about Breath of the Wild, and five we sincerely hope are not.
10 Good - Coming Out This Year
We could be seeing the Breath of the Wild sequel sooner than we initially thought. Some rumors have been flying that Nintendo is preparing to release the sequel this year. Console titles typically have five to six years between them, so this would be a departure for the norm for the Legend of Zelda. This rumor also connects with the launch of the Nintendo Pro as it is speculated that the game and the console would be coming out around the same time. Whatever the situation is, we hope this one is true.
9 Bad - The Hiring Of New Designers
Now, we are not upset that Nintendo seems to be hiring new designers for this game. But we are confused about is what this could mean. If Nintendo is still in the process of hiring designers, the Breath of the Wild sequel may not be coming out this year, and it could be delayed to a future date. Unfortunately, this one may be a little further down the line than we thought.
8 Good - This One Will Take A Dark Turn
Now, there were some heavy themes in Breath of the Wild. Fortunately, it looks like Nintendo will continue to go down this road. In the trailer, Link and Zelda are seen going into a dark dungeon with some seemingly dangerous spirits.
There is speculation that a dark twist could be revealed in this new installment, and one of the people associated with the project confirmed that the game would take a darker turn. We love a good dark story with some nuance, especially one that is known for being pretty kid-friendly. So, we hope this one is true.
7 Bad - The Map Will Likely Change
Breath of the Wild had a lot going for it, but one of the primary things it was known for was the extensiveness of the map. You could be trying to survive on snowcapped mountains during one playthrough, and walking through a beautiful field surrounded by mountains in the next. It was apparent that the designers put a lot of work into creating realistic environments. The story is that this is changing. The entry above described a need for designers who could create dungeons. While we are sure this won’t take up the whole game, we hope the designers still develop excellent above-ground moments.
6 Good - Zelda Could Be Playable
Well, considering that the whole franchise is named after her, it would make sense that you would be able to play as the famous princess eventually. In images from the trailer, Zelda is seen in clothing and a haircut to suggest that she may be ready for a new adventure, instead of just sitting on the throne. Again, this is just speculation, but we sincerely hope this one is true.
5 Bad - Zelda Could Be A Temporary Playable Character
This rumor comes from a 4chan user who claims to have some interesting inside information about the upcoming sequel. One of the things they revealed was a closer look into Zelda’s role. The rumor is that she will be playable when Link needs to solve certain puzzles and that she will accompany the main character in the Overworld.
So, you won’t have free use of her throughout the game. It is a bit disappointing because a story arc involving Zelda having to save Link or play a significant role in the game would have been a great way to differentiate this title from others.
4 Good - We May Have A Name
This 4chan user also went on to reveal the potential name of the game: The Legend of Zelda: Bond of the Triforce. The coolest part about this possibly being authentic is what this title could mean for the franchise. If Triforce is included in the title, it could mean that this might be a franchise-defining game that impacts the lore and timeline in a big way. Again, let’s take this with a grain of salt, but this would be a pretty cool reveal.
3 Bad - Or It Could Be Named Something Else
In Mid-2019, some rumblings about the possible name of the Breath of the Wild sequel came to light. This rumor said the potential name of the sequel could be Breath of Darkness. While it does highlight the series potentially taking a darker turn, it feels way too on the nose. There were a lot of elements in Breath of the Wild that already felt dark and sinister. So, just changing the name from Wild to Darkness doesn’t feel very creative or exciting. Bond of the Triforce sounds much better.
2 Good - Magic Will Take Center Stage
Everyone is getting some upgraded magical abilities in this installment. The 4chan leaker noted that not only will Zelda have the ability to bend space and time, but Link will also share in these magical skills.
Link is said to have access to a magic slingshot, while also being able to summon controllable armies that can act on your every whim. This game is sounding like it is going to take what we enjoyed about Breath of the Wild, and expand on those aspects.
1 Bad - The Graphics
Now, the leak also revealed that the graphics would be comparable to the original Breath of the Wild. This situation would make sense as the newest installment will only be three to four years removed from the 2017 title. However, there is some talk that the graphics will “differ in some cases” due to “different choices by the artistic direction.” What does that mean? Will they differ due to changes in the storyline, or are there more significant—and troubling—reasons as to why this is the case? Either way, we hope the development team does this installment justice.
NEXT: The Legend Of Zelda: 5 Directors Who Should Direct A Live Action Movie (& 5 Who Absolutely Shouldn’t)
