The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Artifacts

Characters

Zelda Notes

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Japanese Title

ゼルダの伝説 ティアーズ オブ ザ キングダム

Release Date

May 12, 2023

Era

Era of the Wilds

Canonicity

Broad Canon ✔
Games Canon ✔
Media Canon ✔

Synopsis

Continuing from Breath of the Wild, Link and Zelda face a new threat as they delve into ancient mysteries buried within Hyrule. Together, they must uncover the kingdom's lost secrets to prevent a dark force from rising again.

Gameplay

This game builds upon Breath of the Wild’s open-world mechanics, introducing new tools and additional survival elements. Over the course of Link's journey, he'll explore a multitude of landscapes, such as the Depths and the Sky, use creativity to solve challenges, and experience a vast world filled with secrets.

Plot

Several years after the conclusion of Breath of the Wild, people begin to fall ill from a dark miasma. Link and Zelda explore the underground catacombs beneath Hyrule Castle, uncovering ancient murals that hint at past events and a lurking danger. Ganondorf, the Demon King, reawakens, unleashing a catastrophic event known as the Upheaval. In the process, he corrupts Link's arm with Gloom, shatters the Master Sword, and uses his power to raise the castle, completely breaking the seal on him. When the Demon King begins the Upheaval of Hyrule Castle, Zelda begins to fall due to the crumbling pedestal beneath her. Link dives after her and fails to grab her. She disappears in a flash of yellow light, due to the magic in the Secret Stone. Link regains in consciousness in the Room of Awakening to find his right arm replaced with an arm that looks similar to the one that he saw in the Imprisoning Chamber. The spirit of Rauru explains to Link that his arm was damaged beyond repair and that he had to replace it. After Link visits several shrines on Great Sky Island, he is able to open the door to the Temple of Time. After touching the Secret Stone held inside the temple, he makes his way to the pedestal behind the temple where the Master Sword disappears in a flash of yellow light. After returning to the surface, Link begins his quest to discover the root cause of issues in different regions in Hyrule. Throughout the process of resolving those issues, he awakens the Sages, ancestors of the Sages from the Era of Prosperity. Once Link regains his strength, he obtains the Master Sword, resting in the head of the Light Dragon. After a test of his stamina, he is able to pull the Master Sword. Link and the Sages defeat the Demon King's Army after a lengthy battle in Gloom's Lair, opening the way to Gloom's Origin. After suffering defeat at the hands of Link, Ganon becomes frustrated and desperate and swallows his Secret Stone, turning into the Demon Dragon. Link and the Light Dragon coordinate to defeat the Demon Dragon in an epic battle in the skies over Hyrule. After an intense battle, the Demon Dragon is obliterated in a massive column of light as Link and the Light Dragon watch from the distance. After the Demon Dragon is destroyed, the spirits of Rauru and Sonia use Ultra Recall to restore Zelda to her human form. 

References

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Locations

Depths

Temple of Light

Lomei Island

North Lomei

South Lomei

Central Hyrule

Hyrule Castle

Gerudo Desert

Great Plateau

Ancient Hyrule Castle

Temple of Time (Age of the Gods)

Temple of Time (Era of the Wilds)

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Landmarks

Sage Statues

Sacred Trees