Tears of the Kingdom team teases playable Princess Zelda for her own game
After years of focusing on Link, Nintendo has discussed the possibility of making Princess Zelda a playable character for the fan-favourite series.
16th May 2023 15:59
Images via Nintendo
Tears of the Kingdom team teases playable Princess Zelda for her own game
After years of focusing on Link, Nintendo has discussed the possibility of making Princess Zelda a playable character for the fan-favourite series.
16th May 2023 15:59
Images via Nintendo
Despite the fact the franchise is literally named after her, gamers are often bamboozled by the concept that we can't play as Princess Zelda in the Zelda games. Now though, the runaway success of Tears of the Kingdom has sparked the conversation about her rightly getting her time in the spotlight.
Since Zelda was first kidnapped by Ganon for 1986's The Legend of Zelda, we've seen her grow into the strong warrior woman who appears in Tears of the Kingdom, yet, she's still sidelined in favour of Link. It's true that Princess Zelda was playable during parts of 2009's Spirit Tracks, but it's not exactly a fan favourite.
Could Princess Zelda get her own game?
With continued calls to give Zelda her own game - or at least make her playable in some future title - series producer Eiji Aonuma has finally discussed the idea. Better yet, he suggested to Vanity Fair that it's not just some fan pipe dream but sounds like a real possibility.
"We feel like what takes most priority is this idea of gameplay. If it turns out that the particular gameplay we're trying to bring to fruition would be best served by having Zelda take that role, then it's possible that that could be a direction we could take," said Aonuma.
It's not that easy though, as he added, "With that said, of course, because we are not sure what the next gameplay experience is going to be, we can't say what Zelda's next step is going to be." The argument is that there would be a real reason for Zelda to have her own game.
Speaking of next steps, Aonuma told GameInformer the open-world aesthetic Breath of the Wild delivered gave a new freedom, concluding, "I think it's correct to say that it has created a new kind of format for the series to proceed from."
Can you play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom?
While some cryptic marketing hinted that Link might be out of action and you'd get to play as Zelda in Tears of the Kingdom, the 2023 epic is once largely confined to your typical damsel in distress outing where he tours Hyrule looking for her.
It's a formula that's worked for Nintendo for the past 37 years, but honestly, we thought the gaming giant would try something different this time around. Much like those hated MJ sections in Marvel's Spider-Man, there are sure to be those who'd moan if we got a playable Princess Zelda.
If Aonuma and co. are already talking about a playable Zelda, we say that sounds like the perfect money-making scheme for the inevitable Tears of the Kingdom DLC. Sadly, we're currently left playing as Zelda (or Sheik) in Smash Bros. instead of seeing her kick ass in her own game.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
