Good question! It seems Link has lost his abilities given by the champions, as their icons are missing on the left part of the screen in TotK. Therefore, I think this is an indication that the champions will not play a significant role in TotK. I think they will be mentioned, but not sure we will see them. I hope I am wrong though, as I love anything that gives throwbacks to previous games. It makes me feel so nostalgic! So, I hope they will somehow appear. Please feel free to share your thoughts 😊. Thank you so much!
@Going Nintendos That's a good point. Perhaps we don't have the champion abilities because they took them back after returning... I did notice that the game seems to be throwing in multiple hints regarding spirits, though. First, and most notably, the color palette for TotK seems to have a focus on the glowing green/blue color. This could just be a reference to the Zonai, however, in the BotW description for Luminous Stone, it mentions that some people believe this color is associated with the souls of the dead. Going along with this idea, I noticed that the underground areas are filled with Luminous Stone deposits, bathing these areas in pale green/blue light. To me, this seems like a subtle hint that spirits will play a role in the story. Additionally, I noticed that a particular sound plays whenever the TotK logo is displayed in the trailers. Right after the words "Tears of the Kingdom" appear, you hear a very strange, yet very distinct, bell sound. This may be a coincidence, but that exact bell sound has already been used in BotW. Specifically, this sound was played multiple times in the background while King Rhoam's spirit revealed his true identity at the beginning of the game. Seeing as how this sound is connected to the logo for the game, it must be important to the plot. Assuming that spirits will play a significant role in this game, the champions should return. They're the most relevant spirits when it comes to the storyline of BotW, so I think this makes them the most likely to appear. This may just be me trying to create evidence of the champions returning, but it is definitely intriguing stuff!
@@Drew.Mellow Nice observations and very good points! I am especially impressed by your observations regarding spirits and theory of the meaning of the luminous stones in the underground area. I think the game will start in the underground area and that this is where Link will receive his Zonai abilities - and perhaps lose his previous abilities in the process? But if the underground area is where Ganon's remains rests as well as the Zonai entity lending Link its powers, then these could be the very spirits or souls of the dead that the stones are hinting at? Maybe? It would be awesome if the champions return though, and I see your point about them being spirits and therefore central to the theme - they are also surrounded by the green/blue light in BotW after all. I agree with the speculation regarding the logo. I think it is very important to the game, as well as the animal-looking spirit or divine entity surrounded by the seven tears as shown in the trailer as well. It is very intriguing indeed!
@Going Nintendos Ooh, I didn't consider that Ganondorf and the Zonai could be the spirits. I'm almost positive that you're right about Link losing his abilities/gear in the underground. After all, we see in the gameplay teaser that Link is now back to 3-4 hearts at the start of this game, so something definitely happened! There are so many possibilities! I can't wait for this game!
I'm actually digging the fantasy/technology from both BoTW and ToTK, but I can see why you would feel meh about it. Hopefully you still end up enjoying the game. Cool reaction and thoughts!
@@goingnintendos I mean they are already referencing Castle in the Sky a bit, along with Princess Mononoke, so why not build your own Howl’s moving castle?
@@joshbailey4075 Haha that's true! I didn't consider Skyward Sword :D Well then, if you take it in the literal sense, we already have the moving castle i.e the castle rising from the ground in ToTK ;D
I was so excited at the prospect of the Zonai being in Tears of the Kingdom. Considering what little there was to learn about them from the game and from the art book, I was convinced they were going to be a tribe of mystical warriors. They would possess some control over the elements of lightning and shadow, which would explain the state of Thundra Plateau and the Typhlo Ruins, respectively. I was imagining how this tribe of barbarians would use their magic to thwart the technologically superior communities that surrounded them, like perhaps summoning thunderstorms to prevent their foes from wielding metal weapons, or maybe cloaking themselves in darkness when against archers. As interesting as the Sheikah's technology was, they dominated BotW and the spinoff game Age of Calamity, so the new focus on the ancient barbarians captivated me. During the February trailer, it was revealed that the Zonai were just as technologically advanced as the Sheikah were. Then to add insult to injury, the gameplay reveal showed that the Zonai built machines to fight their battles for them. It doesn't make sense to me why a tribe that allegedly values the virtue of courage would hide behind robots and firepower. I have faith that the game will have a good explanation for why the Zonai are the way they are, although it is tempting to think that they were retconned at some point. Embracing elements of science fiction is something that Zelda team have always done, but right now it seems that they're almost embarrassed of the series' fantasy heritage. Link didn't need a tablet computer or a motorcycle to be cool to me. This disappointment is ultimately what drove me to search for other people's perspectives. I don't want to be pessimistic about this series I enjoyed so much.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I find them very interesting, and I agree with many of your points here. As you maybe heard me mention, I am also a bigger fan of the fantasy/magical aspect of Zelda, rather than the technological. I, like you, perceive the Zonai as a barbarian tribe, and the idea of them controlling elements/having some sort of magical abilities rather than being another technology-based tribe is way more intriguing to me. I think you have a point about them being reimagined. I am speculating that they chose to focus on the Zonai in this game due to the hype surrounding them. It's interesting because with Majoras Mask, one of the reasons why many are fascinated by the origins and story of Majoras Mask is due to the fact that very little is known. Unsolved mysteries are appealing because anything could be possible, and I think the original idea with the Zonai was that much of their story was meant to be a mystery, like in the case with Majoras Mask. But maybe they changed their mind, and maybe the choice about their technological abilities was made to accommodate freedom in gameplay and the crafting possibilities, rather than favour an interesting story about the Zonai. And don't get me wrong, I love that they chose to include the Zonai in TotK, but I think you are right about the retroactive continuity. These are just thoughts, and when it all comes down to it, it's about preferences. Some people will love this potential version of the Zonai while others will be disappointed - maybe even more so because they have already speculated about their story and characteristics. Nevertheless, I would personally prefer your version of the Zonai :D!
It's been suspected that the great reception the guardian stalker had at the BotW presentation all those years ago was the reason why Sheikah tech became so prominent in the finished game. Like you said, many speculation videos were released about the Zonai and it would seem once again that the Zelda team were aware! I know that Tears of the Kingdom began as DLC for BotW, but do you think it was always their intention to create a direct sequel to the game? You make a good argument that the Zonai are a lot like the tribe from Majora's Mask, in that their purpose was simply to be a mystery. From what I've been able to gather, the majority of fans appear to be in favour of the changes to the Zonai. The developers have always prioritised gameplay mechanics, furthermore freedom was really what set BotW apart. Not many are speculating on the discrepancies, but some have. NintendoBlackCrisis suspects that the Zonai are long dead by the present, therefore the robots were created to protect/nurture their lands after they perished. It's a fair theory, however I can't help but feel there was a missed opportunity here. The Zonai could have been so long lived and have been aware of the virtues of the triforce, because they extended their lives through undeath. In Majora's Mask we had an entire kingdom of undead characters in the Ikana Canyon, that was so memorable to me as a kid. This could have been an excuse to create Zonai versions of all kinds of iconic Zelda enemies. I don't know about you, but I would love the prospect of a Zonai Dead Hand! ReDeads are returning at least, so maybe I shouldn't be too greedy.
@@goingnintendos great, I will subscribe and I look forward to seeing them 😸. I won't want any spoilers so I will have to wait until I'm far into the game but I will make sure to watch.
@@cloudzero2049 Thank you and please feel free to share your opinion of the game when we make it so far :D I understand why you wouldn't want any spoilers until you have played it yourself :)!
@Going Nintendos Thanks! I really appreciate that! In the near future, I plan to transition my channel into creating and showcasing custom LEGO models based on BotW and TotK. I don't know if people will watch it, but I'd sure enjoy making the content! Lol
Please keep going you will catch virality easy with your zelda videos!
Wow, thank you so much 🥹!
Would you like to see the champions return in TotK? How likely do you think it is that they'll appear somewhere in the game? Great video, btw!
Good question! It seems Link has lost his abilities given by the champions, as their icons are missing on the left part of the screen in TotK. Therefore, I think this is an indication that the champions will not play a significant role in TotK. I think they will be mentioned, but not sure we will see them. I hope I am wrong though, as I love anything that gives throwbacks to previous games. It makes me feel so nostalgic! So, I hope they will somehow appear. Please feel free to share your thoughts 😊. Thank you so much!
@Going Nintendos That's a good point. Perhaps we don't have the champion abilities because they took them back after returning...
I did notice that the game seems to be throwing in multiple hints regarding spirits, though. First, and most notably, the color palette for TotK seems to have a focus on the glowing green/blue color. This could just be a reference to the Zonai, however, in the BotW description for Luminous Stone, it mentions that some people believe this color is associated with the souls of the dead. Going along with this idea, I noticed that the underground areas are filled with Luminous Stone deposits, bathing these areas in pale green/blue light. To me, this seems like a subtle hint that spirits will play a role in the story.
Additionally, I noticed that a particular sound plays whenever the TotK logo is displayed in the trailers. Right after the words "Tears of the Kingdom" appear, you hear a very strange, yet very distinct, bell sound. This may be a coincidence, but that exact bell sound has already been used in BotW. Specifically, this sound was played multiple times in the background while King Rhoam's spirit revealed his true identity at the beginning of the game. Seeing as how this sound is connected to the logo for the game, it must be important to the plot.
Assuming that spirits will play a significant role in this game, the champions should return. They're the most relevant spirits when it comes to the storyline of BotW, so I think this makes them the most likely to appear.
This may just be me trying to create evidence of the champions returning, but it is definitely intriguing stuff!
@@Drew.Mellow Nice observations and very good points! I am especially impressed by your observations regarding spirits and theory of the meaning of the luminous stones in the underground area. I think the game will start in the underground area and that this is where Link will receive his Zonai abilities - and perhaps lose his previous abilities in the process? But if the underground area is where Ganon's remains rests as well as the Zonai entity lending Link its powers, then these could be the very spirits or souls of the dead that the stones are hinting at? Maybe? It would be awesome if the champions return though, and I see your point about them being spirits and therefore central to the theme - they are also surrounded by the green/blue light in BotW after all. I agree with the speculation regarding the logo. I think it is very important to the game, as well as the animal-looking spirit or divine entity surrounded by the seven tears as shown in the trailer as well.
It is very intriguing indeed!
@Going Nintendos Ooh, I didn't consider that Ganondorf and the Zonai could be the spirits. I'm almost positive that you're right about Link losing his abilities/gear in the underground. After all, we see in the gameplay teaser that Link is now back to 3-4 hearts at the start of this game, so something definitely happened! There are so many possibilities! I can't wait for this game!
@@Drew.Mellow I agree, so many! It's gonna be so exciting :D
I'm actually digging the fantasy/technology from both BoTW and ToTK, but I can see why you would feel meh about it. Hopefully you still end up enjoying the game. Cool reaction and thoughts!
Yes, and I must admit it really works for BoTW, so I am confident it will work for ToTK as well. The game looks amazing either way :D Thank you!
I’m wondering if at some point you have to build a fortress and bring people to it to protect them
That would be wild :D
@@goingnintendos I mean they are already referencing Castle in the Sky a bit, along with Princess Mononoke, so why not build your own Howl’s moving castle?
@@joshbailey4075 True - then we only need to enter an alternate spirit world, and it's full circle Studio Ghibli :D
@@goingnintendos They kinda already did with Skyward Sword somewhat lol where you had to collect tears funny enough.
@@joshbailey4075 Haha that's true! I didn't consider Skyward Sword :D Well then, if you take it in the literal sense, we already have the moving castle i.e the castle rising from the ground in ToTK ;D
Interesting insights! Will you be also reacting to the newest tears of the kingdom trailer?
Yes! It's up now ☺
I was so excited at the prospect of the Zonai being in Tears of the Kingdom. Considering what little there was to learn about them from the game and from the art book, I was convinced they were going to be a tribe of mystical warriors. They would possess some control over the elements of lightning and shadow, which would explain the state of Thundra Plateau and the Typhlo Ruins, respectively. I was imagining how this tribe of barbarians would use their magic to thwart the technologically superior communities that surrounded them, like perhaps summoning thunderstorms to prevent their foes from wielding metal weapons, or maybe cloaking themselves in darkness when against archers. As interesting as the Sheikah's technology was, they dominated BotW and the spinoff game Age of Calamity, so the new focus on the ancient barbarians captivated me.
During the February trailer, it was revealed that the Zonai were just as technologically advanced as the Sheikah were. Then to add insult to injury, the gameplay reveal showed that the Zonai built machines to fight their battles for them. It doesn't make sense to me why a tribe that allegedly values the virtue of courage would hide behind robots and firepower. I have faith that the game will have a good explanation for why the Zonai are the way they are, although it is tempting to think that they were retconned at some point.
Embracing elements of science fiction is something that Zelda team have always done, but right now it seems that they're almost embarrassed of the series' fantasy heritage. Link didn't need a tablet computer or a motorcycle to be cool to me. This disappointment is ultimately what drove me to search for other people's perspectives. I don't want to be pessimistic about this series I enjoyed so much.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I find them very interesting, and I agree with many of your points here. As you maybe heard me mention, I am also a bigger fan of the fantasy/magical aspect of Zelda, rather than the technological. I, like you, perceive the Zonai as a barbarian tribe, and the idea of them controlling elements/having some sort of magical abilities rather than being another technology-based tribe is way more intriguing to me. I think you have a point about them being reimagined. I am speculating that they chose to focus on the Zonai in this game due to the hype surrounding them. It's interesting because with Majoras Mask, one of the reasons why many are fascinated by the origins and story of Majoras Mask is due to the fact that very little is known. Unsolved mysteries are appealing because anything could be possible, and I think the original idea with the Zonai was that much of their story was meant to be a mystery, like in the case with Majoras Mask. But maybe they changed their mind, and maybe the choice about their technological abilities was made to accommodate freedom in gameplay and the crafting possibilities, rather than favour an interesting story about the Zonai. And don't get me wrong, I love that they chose to include the Zonai in TotK, but I think you are right about the retroactive continuity.
These are just thoughts, and when it all comes down to it, it's about preferences. Some people will love this potential version of the Zonai while others will be disappointed - maybe even more so because they have already speculated about their story and characteristics. Nevertheless, I would personally prefer your version of the Zonai :D!
It's been suspected that the great reception the guardian stalker had at the BotW presentation all those years ago was the reason why Sheikah tech became so prominent in the finished game. Like you said, many speculation videos were released about the Zonai and it would seem once again that the Zelda team were aware! I know that Tears of the Kingdom began as DLC for BotW, but do you think it was always their intention to create a direct sequel to the game? You make a good argument that the Zonai are a lot like the tribe from Majora's Mask, in that their purpose was simply to be a mystery.
From what I've been able to gather, the majority of fans appear to be in favour of the changes to the Zonai. The developers have always prioritised gameplay mechanics, furthermore freedom was really what set BotW apart. Not many are speculating on the discrepancies, but some have. NintendoBlackCrisis suspects that the Zonai are long dead by the present, therefore the robots were created to protect/nurture their lands after they perished. It's a fair theory, however I can't help but feel there was a missed opportunity here.
The Zonai could have been so long lived and have been aware of the virtues of the triforce, because they extended their lives through undeath. In Majora's Mask we had an entire kingdom of undead characters in the Ikana Canyon, that was so memorable to me as a kid. This could have been an excuse to create Zonai versions of all kinds of iconic Zelda enemies. I don't know about you, but I would love the prospect of a Zonai Dead Hand! ReDeads are returning at least, so maybe I shouldn't be too greedy.
Thanks for the great video, I'm impressed by your Zelda knowledge. Will you be making videos for TOTK when it comes out? You should.
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! I will be doing a let's play for sure. And hopefully other types of videos as well on this game :D
@@goingnintendos great, I will subscribe and I look forward to seeing them 😸. I won't want any spoilers so I will have to wait until I'm far into the game but I will make sure to watch.
@@cloudzero2049 Thank you and please feel free to share your opinion of the game when we make it so far :D I understand why you wouldn't want any spoilers until you have played it yourself :)!
I subbed, btw. :D
Thank you - I subbed to your channel too :D
@Going Nintendos Thanks! I really appreciate that! In the near future, I plan to transition my channel into creating and showcasing custom LEGO models based on BotW and TotK. I don't know if people will watch it, but I'd sure enjoy making the content! Lol
@@Drew.Mellow That sounds fun :D I will be watching, and I am sure others will as well!
@@goingnintendos 🙏
@@goingnintendos Do you have Instagram? Also, I'm not sure if you celebrate Easter, but if you do... well, Happy Easter. Haha!
Hyrule, I am coming back!!!
Nice observations! I can't wait to return to this variant of Hyrule and to get creative with all those new possibilities
Thank you! I know, me too 😃🙌
@@goingnintendos Are you planning to play the game on TH-cam/Twitch?
@@john_nah Yes, on TH-cam Definitely! I am considering to join Twitch too, but TH-cam for sure 🙌
@@goingnintendos Oh nice, I'm looking forward to your videos! :) Twitch would be cool too!
@@john_nahThank you so much, I am really happy to hear that :D
Yo why are u lowkey so beautiful and im hyped for this game :) ps imma guy ignore the username lol
That's so sweet of you, thank you so much, and I am glad to hear you're hyped, it's gonna be so exciting!
@@goingnintendos Honestly your reply made my day and im actually sick and im recovering :)
@@terriflattI'm so flattered to hear that it did, and I hope you get well soon!
Hi ！ I'm Ray. How are you？
Hi Ray. I am good thank you. I hope you liked the video :)
Nice to meet you ！Thanks for your reply I can't believe it !！!
@@lili-ls1je You too. Of course, and thank you!