Following the success ofThe Legend of Zelda’s burgeoning spin-off series,Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamitycould be forging the path for future titles that will allow players to better exploreZelda’slongstanding history. While the first gamewas officially set outside theZeldatimeline, its second entryHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamitytook after the latestZeldagameBreath of the Wild,and focused instead on the war against the Calamity Ganon and his forces. Though fans had anticipatedAge of Calamitymight be similarly non-canon, the game went above and beyond to establish its own niche timeline.
Fans are still waiting for the long-anticipatedBreath of the Wildsequel in the near future, butHyrule Warriorscould get a third gamein a shorter period of time if it decides to look backwards instead of forwards. With close to forty years ofZeldagames to take inspiration from,Hyrule Warriorscould revisit the franchise’s previous games to build on its own timeline, history, and lore. Not only would it help generate nostalgia for older players and foster an appreciation for theZeldaseries in a younger audience, but it could help secure a permanent place forHyrule Warriorsas a more permanent fixture ofZeldagames.
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Age of Calamity And New Zelda Timelines
Following the release ofOcarina of Time,Zeldahas been known for its branching timelines. Discussion around these timelines always crops up with each new game announced; the chronology ofZeldais often a staple of fan speculation. However, with confirmation from Nintendo thatBreath of the Wildresolves these timelines, bringing them all together in what’s determined to be their natural endpoint, it seemed this timeline tradition had come to an end.
It’s been evidently hard for fans to let go ofZelda’s branching timelines, as current theories have turned to hownew timelines might involveAge of CalamityandBreath of the Wild 2. Specifically withHyrule Warriorsthough,Age of Calamityoutright demonstrated it was going to reworkZeldahistory when time travel became a major component of the game’s narrative, with its story focusing on changing history to preemptively defeat Calamity Ganon. But while fans look to the future ofZeldaand how these two games could influence the series moving forwards,Hyrule Warriorsshould look back instead.
Hyrule Warriors' Future Lies In The Past
Since theZeldatimelines are currently in an odd limbo where fans are unsure if Nintendo will revisit its earlier timelines or ifBreath of the Wildand its sequel will start new timelines, developer Omega Force should allow Nintendo to focus on its core story before considering games set afterAge of Calamity. In lieu of continuing theAge of Calamitystoryline, Omega Force’s next move should be to revisit earlier games and explore unseen parts ofZeldalore.
Not only could this be a safer strategy until more is officially known aboutZelda’sfuture, but it could help tide players over between newZeldagames. Moreover, it would simultaneously capitalize on those same players' nostalgia beyond just cameo-like roles. For instance, while the firstHyrule Warriorstook broad inspiration from the series including characters from the likes ofOcarina ofTimeandTwilight Princess,Age of CalamityprovedZeldacould expandwith spin-offs that were better connected to the series' lore and legacyinstead of just a loose offshoot.
FutureHyrule Warriorscould explore events in the series such as the Interloper War referenced inTwilight Princessor the time afterSkyward Swordand Demise’s defeat, possibly showcasing Ganon’s “first” appearance in the ongoingZeldalegacy. Diving into these areas ofZeldalore provides enough wiggle room forHyrule Warriorsto leave its mark while also respecting the history of the series and fans' expectations. Alternatively,Hyrule Warriorscould consider adapting some ofZelda’sdirect sequels likeThe Adventure of Linkinto an atypical remake, which would bring one ofZelda’searliest games back to the forefront.
