A good spinoff manages to be just as exciting as the game it came from. That’s not always easy, since a spinoffs often change genres and become something very different from the source material. Even so, that means that if the spinoff is successful, it’s even more impressive. One good example of this isHyrule Warriors. The originalHyrule Warriorsand the more recentHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamitycouldn’t be more different from the standard fare ofThe Legend of Zelda.Even just taking control of character other than Link is a special treat; the hack and slash, real-time tactics gameplay ofHyrule Warriorsputs Nintendo’s cornerstone series in a very different light.
Nintendo wouldn’t have pursued aDynasty Warriorsstyle spinoff ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildif it didn’t think of the firstHyrule Warriorsgame as a success. Nintendo was proud of the first game’s positive reception, as evidenced by its port from the Wii U to the 3DS, and eventually to the Switch too.Age of Calamitywas met positively too, so Nintendo might feel motivated to keepHyrule Warriorsgoing – and it should.The Legend of Zeldahas a rich, storied universe that can afford to make room for another game in this budding series.
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The Battle for Hyrule
The firstHyrule Warriorsgame could be described as a celebration of theZeldafranchise’s history. It brought together characters from all across theZeldatimeline to stop a common threat, putting names like Darunia, Fi, and Midna in the same place for the first time. WhileHyrule Warriorswas non-canonical, it’s a great way to look back onZelda’s past.Age of Calamity,meanwhile, serves as a prologueforBreath of the Wild,the most recent entry in the franchise. The surprise prequel fleshes out Hyrule before Calamity Ganon’s attack while also whetting appetites for the much anticipatedBreath of the Wild 2.
Now that Nintendo knows how to use theHyrule Warriorsin both ways, it can find a way to strike a balance. Time travel is completely possible inThe Legend of Zelda,and shows up in a lot of games. Nintendo could easily choose an empty space in the timeline where characters can be brought together from across the canon to fulfill a story not unlike the firstHyrule Warriors,but with actual ramifications for the setting.Zelda’s history is also often defined by wars withGanon or other dark forcesthat take place offscreen. It would be really compelling to make one of these events into a playable experience that expands the lore – whether there’s a Link involved or not.
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Breaking From Precedent
If Nintendo feels really bold, it could make aHyrule Warriorsgame that doesn’t have Link at all. Although that would be shocking, it could make for a strong spinoff. For instance, a game about the war for Hyrule beforeSkyward Swordfeaturing Hylia and various other unknown characters would give players a way to explore Hyrule that Nintendo hasn’t offered before. Link and Zelda are great, but they tend to limit players' experiences of Hyrule toThe Legend of Zelda’s multi-generational central narrative. Nintendo wouldn’t risk leaving Link and Zelda behind in a mainlineZeldagame, but a strong spinoff likeHyrule Warriorscould pull it off.
Even if Nintendo doesn’t want to drop Link forHyrule Warriors 3,it has lots of storytelling options. The first game was isolated from the franchise narrative, which made it a little hard to get invested in Link’s character arc for once. A newHyrule Warriorsgame could serve as a non-canonical sequel to aZeldagame, telling a story about Link still serving as Hyrule protector after fulfilling his destiny and defeatinganother incarnation of Ganondorf. An grizzled veteran Link meeting friends from his past would be a fresh take on the first game.
Perhaps the largest break from precedent Nintendo could come up with is aHyrule Warriorsgame where Ganondorf becomes a begrudging ally to Link and Zelda. It would take a really gigantic threat for Ganondorf to turn against destiny and help the other wielders of the Triforce.The churning war thatHyrule Warriorsofferscould represent an evil big enough for such a change of heart. Clearly Nintendo isn’t short on compelling possibilities forHyrule Warriors 3.It has a lot to gain by finding another unique take on this blooming mini-franchise.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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