Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer breakdown and theories
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer 3 is out now, and we've broken down everything with all the secrets we could find
Our time has come at long last. Zelda fans can emerge from their caves, as a brand new Legend fo Zelda game is finally less than a month away from release, and we’ve got the final pre-release trailer to prove it.
Today Nintendo dropped just shy of four minutes of brand new footage from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and we can say now that it looks very good. This trailer clearly caters to hardcore Zelda fans, while still having all of the ingenuity of Breath of the Wild.
To prove it, we’re breaking down the trailer, which you can now watch on YouTube. For all of the details and secrets you might’ve missed, just read through our breakdown below.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Trailer #3 Breakdown and Secrets
The trailer opens up with a shot of Hyrule through the clouds, emphasising how important the world above will be. We also see robots fighting small Chu-Chus, and chopping trees. Then we cut to Link dropping from the sky as the title flashes on the screen.
The trailer opens up with a shot of Hyrule through the clouds, emphasising how important the world above will be. We also see robots fighting small Chu-Chus, and chopping trees. Then we cut to Link dropping from the sky as the title flashes on the screen.
This is followed up by a soldier encampment in the ruins of Hyrule Castle Town Market.
Next we see Link climbing a large mountain while in the background we can see a large cylinder trapped between two mountains. It’s possible this is part of a structure – or machine – that has also fallen from the sky. Below that we see what looks like Kakariko Town, with new structures surrounding it.
Next a sweeping shot takes us over a bridge surrounded by water.
We see Link running before the camera pans up towards the ominous clouds in the sky – this same cloud is seen close up later in the trailer.
Next we cut to the desert where a storm rages, and something bubbles up from beneath the sand – the next shot shows us it seems to be an ancient structure being erected. That rising up from the sand is cut against Hyrule Castle rising into the sky as rocks fall from above.
A wide shot includes some Hylian civilians panicking as the castle rises up in the distance, with debris falling from the heavens.
Then we cut to Ganondorf, lording over a Blood Moon, with his hair fully intact and glowing red.
The camera cuts as he turns, and we see scenes from earlier trailers, including Link failing to rescue Zelda from a fall.
Next up are a few exciting cuts from different areas. We see Link running across the desert, it now filled with sinkholes.
After Link runs through some ruins in a huge cavern, which is possibly underneath Death Mountain.
The next shot shows several flying ships in a swirling storm, and one appearing to lower down to Link, either to speak with him, or take him aboard. This is possibly the same storm cloud from the earlier camera pan.
New mechanics are up next, with floating bubbles of water that Link can swim inside.
That’s immediately followed by a plunge between lasers, Mission Impossible-style, where Link has a wingsuit to control his fall speed. This will likely be very useful in a variety of situations.
Next up we see Link moving a giant lever, which also moves the rooms around him – you’ll recognize that this is inside the floating spherical structures we see later. These are possibly peeks at new dungeons. In this same room, there’s also a machine that resembles a gachapon dispenser.
After, Link is paragliding through an incredibly thin stone passage.
The next cut is very interesting, as it shows Link riding a powerful horse through a battlefield, swinging a weapon like Lu Bu as Hylian soldiers fight Bokoblins. Unlike Breath of the Wild, this implies that the story happens in the present day alongside the player.
A quick cut shoots us up a Sheikah elevator as a musical chime plays.
The next cut shows us a brand new character adorned with horns and scales, and a closed third eye on the forehead. It’s possible this is a new race, but the third eye implies it’s related to the Sheikah.
Another couple of quick cuts: a stylish bit of horse riding from Link.
Followed by what looks like an ancient robot emerging from a wall – almost certainly a boss of some kind.
Link turns, looking shocked, in the next cut, before we get a wide shot from behind him as he clearly stands inside Hyrule Castle.
We fade to black, and when it comes back we see Zelda in a new outfit looking at what seems to be an opening passageway, surrounded by turning gears.
The next shot shows the Master Sword, glowing golden, placed in its pedestal.
A character tells Zelda “our last line of defense will be Link,” before placing a hand on her shoulder. We don’t get a good look at this new character, but the symbol on their chest bares strong resemblance to the Gerudo symbol. This likely ties in with Link’s new arm.
Next we see Link riding a new glider, which is shaped like a bird. Link can ride atop it, instead of hanging from it like a paraglider, which will likely make traversing the skies much easier.
The next shot shows Link parry an enemy with a shield attached to the end of a weapon – a feature we’ve seen in previous trailers – and then Link paraglides above a floating spherical structure of some kind.
Again, this is likely related to the cylinder we saw near Kakariko Village, and also the large lever we saw Link pushing earlier. Will Link have to position these in the sky, or rotate them to achieve something? Seems likely, but we’re not sure what yet.
The next shot is back in what is likely Death Mountain, and a new foe speed dashes at Link like Sonic, only covered in flames.
More quick cuts – we see Link being launched into the sky next to a young Rito, and then Link pulling a cart filled with civilians while on his horse.
This is likely a key part of rebuilding Hyrule – helping civilians prosper.
The next cut showcases another ability we’ve already seen, which is Link’s ability to reverse time for a specific object. He freezes a boulder thrown at him and reverses it back to his foe, defeating it.
The cut immediately after is fascinating: Link holds onto a rocket as it propels him into the sky. What is this? I have no idea. Looks really cool, though.
After we see what appears to be a platforming challenge in the sky. Link’s jump is oddly floaty, pointed out by his arm-swinging animation, and in the background we can see the water bubbles from before, as well as Death Mountain below, with black tendrils sticking out from the top.
Every good game has a minecart section, so Tears of the Kingdom does too. Here we see Link do battle with a robotic foe lurking on a minecart on a parallel track.
Next up is Link above what appears to be a stone oblong on wheels, up against a band of Bokoblins that have set a camp on top of a Stone Talus world boss. Very inventive, on both sides. Most interestingly, Link’s stone on wheels also appears to have arms, which just might have flamethrowers on the end.
Next cut has Link on horseback, this time charging a fire arrow that appears to have a flint or something other kind of rock on the end of it.
We don’t get to see what that does, but in the next shot Link fires an arrow at a machine in a Bokoblin treehouse, and it begins shooting out lasers that attack all nearby foes.
Finally, we get a shot of a real boss. This monster flies at Link and the young Rito from before, and it is seemingly at the heart of the storm clouds we’ve seen twice so far. It looks like a giant, vicious insect, and the ice surrounding it indicates it’s not afraid of the cold.
This smash cuts to Ganon’s red flames, and then Zelda staring a tear-shaped trinket being cupped in her hands, while saying “I know why I am here, it’s something only I can do.”
The next shot shows Ganondorf’s red powers shoot into the sky and hit some kind of ceiling.
Immediately after we see the monsters of Hyrule, familiar from Breath of the Wild, start to go on a rampage, as if the Blood Moon’s effects have been intensified tenfold.
Then, we see that same red aura envelop Link’s arm, and the Master Sword, this likely being cut from the scene where he first receives his new power.
After we see the man himself, Ganondorf, looking incredibly powerful and fully hydrated. He says “Do not look away, you witness a king’s revival, and the birth of his new world.” Very menacing. It cuts to his face as the gem on his forehead glow intensely.
The next shot has Link avoiding some kind of crocodile-like fish monster.
Immediately after we see another shot from the sky, where the young Rito shouts “OK, let’s go!” before flying into the distance, with Link close behind.
We see another new face immediately after that, this one with blonde hair and pointy ears like Zelda, but a darker skin tone. Though, she does bear the same tear-shape trinket that Zelda was holding around her neck. A predecessor, perhaps? She charges some kind of attack with her hand, and it blasts through a bunch of foes, proving her strength.
After we see Urbosa dance with lightning surrounding her, as is her style.
This is followed by a shot with Link alongside a bunch of Hylian civilians that, admittedly, don’t look like fighters, but they are equipped like them.
The shot immediately after shows Link fighting alongside Sidon on a platform in the sky. The robot they’re fighting resembles many of the robotic foes we’ve seen thus far, and the creatures chopping wood in the very first shots. This also, of course, indicates that fighting alongside a variety of NPCs is a new mechanic that will likely feature heavily in the game.
We again see Urbosa, Sidon, and the new young Rito character charging into battle, which indicates an active war is involving all of Hyrule’s various races.
We then see Link facing off with a giant three-headed dragon. He’ll need all the help he can get. This is also likely a creature summoned thanks to Ganondorf’s power.
Zelda states “Link, you are our final hope,” while holding onto the hilt of the Master Sword. We then cut to the title once more.
After the title, Zelda stands on a platform and looks into the sky, shouting “Link, you must find me.” That’s the last shot of the trailer.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Trailer #3 Theories
It seems like story is taking a big focus in Tears of the Kingdom after fans complained about it being mostly absent in Breath of the Wild. Ganondorf is back, of course, and he seems to be more powerful than ever. It also seems to confirm theories that the Gerudo are a key part of the story. Zelda’s mysterious partner seems to be from the Gerudo tribe, and Link’s arm is likely also linked to them.
The Sheikah appear to take a bit of a backseat in this story compared to Breath of the Wild, but of course Link will still be visiting Kakariko Village, and we can’t ignore the new dinosaur-like character that seems to be hinted at being related to them.
We also get to see a bunch of new structures floating in the sky in the form of platforming challenges, and those giant spheres which Link may have to rotate and position in the sky to achieve… something.
There’s also a much bigger emphasis on war, with several shots showing active battlefields, encampments, or even civilians wearing what looks like makeshift armor and wielding dodgy weaponry.
Couple this with the shot of Link travelling with a cart of civilians, and it seems like Link’s attempts to rebuild Hyrule will involve taking back land from enemies, with the help of civilians, and giving them what they need to settle down. It’s an interesting idea and, if they emphasise it enough, it can totally alter the pace of the game.
This trailer is a pretty great reason to get excited for Tears of the Kingdom. It’s showing us that it just might be a more story-driven adventure, while retaining all of the freedom that made Breath of the Wild like nothing else before it.
