The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has said he doesn’t really care about the series’ chronology while reflecting on Tears of the Kingdom.
IGN asked the famed developer how the latest entry fits in with the different Zelda timelines, saying these games feel more like myths or legends surrounding the likes of Link and Ganondorf instead of being specific stories with a hard-wired canon.
Aonuma agreed, saying overthinking the Zelda chronology — which begins with Skyward Sword and splits into three alternative timelines following Ocarina of Time — could limit the development team’s creativity and vision.
I don’t like to put too much stock in the chronology of the series, because from the design perspective, that can kind of box us in.
“I think just as you say, this is a series that really lends itself well to each person playing, then thinking back and interpreting the story elements in their own way,” Aonuma told IGN. “We have these major players in each game, with Zelda, and Ganon, and Link, and they each surface and play their roles in potentially slightly different ways in each title.
“But personally, I don’t like to put too much stock in the chronology of the series, because from the design perspective, that can kind of box us in and limit where we’re able to take the story as we continue making games in the series. And so I do think it’s something that is best for people to interpret on their own. And yeah, I was kind of agreeing with many of the things you said.”
Tears of the Kingdom got off to a very hot start when it launched on May 10, as Nintendo announced the sequel sold 10 million copies within three days.
In our 10/10 review, IGN said: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unfathomable follow-up, expanding a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”
And for help with everything Tears of the Kingdom, take a look at our Tears of the Kingdom Walkthrough and Guide about making your way through Hyrule. In fact, you can start here:
16 Things to Do First in Tears of the Kingdom14 Things Tears of the Kingdom Doesn’t Tell YouHow to Uncover the Full TOTK MapHow to Expand Your Inventory in TOTKPSA: Your Old BOTW Save Unlocks Something Cool in TOTK
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
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