Look, by now, you understand the basic Zelda franchise formula. You know what to expect whenever Nintendo shares previews of what’s to come from its second-biggest money-maker.
You will take the helm of Link — the “link” between the player and the game. You will be the chosen one that gathers strength and power in a beautiful fantasy world. Then, eventually, you will vanquish the forces of evil — almost always Ganondorf — and everyone will be on their merry way.
But I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like the final The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer. This is a leap forward I’m just not accustomed to seeing Nintendo take.
On Thursday, Nintendo shared its last comprehensive teaser about the next brilliant entry in its grandiose franchise. While it’s very likely Tears of the Kingdom will not veer away from the basic Zela skeleton, the trailer suggests it will be an immersive cinematic experience we really haven’t seen before when it comes to our favorite hero utilizing the Master Sword.
In other words, it will be a worthy successor to Breath of the Wild:
An almost FOUR-MINUTE trailer replete with:
- Dynamic establishing shots of different breathtaking locales around the Kingdom of Hyrule
- Link achieving various heroic, death-defying stunts even the bravest person in Hollywood could only dream of
- Various teasers of a coming epic battle and dialog about Link being the world’s (usual) last hope
- A goosebumps-inducing music score that adds so many layers
I understand these kinds of trailers are designed expressly to generate hype and excitement. They might not reflect what actually happens in the game. But when was the last time Nintendo didn’t deliver on that front regarding Zelda? This last trailer seems more like a tip-of-the-iceberg demonstration rather than something designed to mislead.
It makes Tears of the Kingdom seem like a blockbuster movie. And I hate that we still have to wait just about a month to take it all in. Even if I’m familiar with the Zelda formula, I know I’m about to be blown away.
Again.
You can dive into this latest epic Zelda adventure on May 12.