Many incredible mechanics were introduced toThe Legend of ZeldainBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, but one unfair feature from the same games should not be carried forward into future titles. Despite their ambitious designs and incredible reception, some aspects of both these games are undeniably frustrating for the average person. However, the franchise can still easily rectify this by changing its approach in the future.
It is undeniable thatBOTWhas had a monumental impact on theZeldafranchise, and is arguably one of its most influential titles ever.BOTWis a captivating gamein many ways, and it established several new traditions and features that have since gone on to appear inTOTKandEchoes of Wisdom. Nevertheless, not every part ofBOTW’s impact has been entirely positive, and there are some clear changes thatthe nextLegend of Zeldagameshould make to break away from its influence.
Epona Deserves To Be Part Of The Next Zelda Title’s Base Content
The Iconic Steed Should Not Be A Permanent Amiibo Exclusive
Despite bringing countless references to the wider franchise together into one game,Breath of the Wildmade Epona an Amiibo exclusive rather than a readily available mount. Of course, owning Link’s famous horse is far from necessary to complete the game, but considering how iconic the brown mare is in her own right, this decision can be disappointing for people without the prerequisite Amiibo, andobtaining Epona inTears of the Kingdomis almost as difficult. With this in mind, it is clear that Epona should return to being part of the base game in her next appearance.
You’ve Been Taming Zelda: TOTK’s Wild Horses Wrong This Whole Time
Wild horses in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are skittish and often difficult to tame. But that’s no longer the case with this new taming method.
As a familiar character for many players, Epona deserves to have a more reliable presence in theZeldafranchise than being what is effectively DLC. The franchise’s current use of Epona is frustrating for those familiar with her, and also means that people newer to theZeldagames will have a much lower chance of becoming invested to begin with (meaning they would be less interested in obtaining her). As such, despite being Link’s traditional mount,Epona could effectively vanish from the games if this trend continues.
Classic Zelda Elements Shouldn’t Be Locked Behind Amiibo
It Damages The Appeal Of These Nostalgic Features
Considering thatTOTKis a direct sequel to BOTW, making Epona available in its own base game would devalue the Amiibo usage inBOTW. However, it still means that many people will likely never own Epona in either of these games. Moreover, the feature seems to be setting a worrying trend. For example, althoughEchoes of Wisdomdoes not feature Epona at all, there are still several outfits for Zeda that are similarly exclusive to Amiibo. In a bigger game,it is easy to picture Epona or even other classicZeldaelements once again seeing the same treatment.
Another notable Amiibo effect inBOTWis the addition of Wolf Link as a temporary companion, which given the incongruity of his appearance seems more appropriate for an optional gameplay bonus.
Playing on nostalgia can easily heighten the experience of a new entry in a long-running franchise likeThe Legend of Zelda, but effectively paywalling this same content can be a major negative for those most invested in the franchise. Of course, it would be absurd for Amiibo to become necessary for core mechanics, but an increased emphasis on their usage could still have a devastating effect on basic gameplay. For example, aZeldagame that once again uses music could treat warping songs in a similar fashion toSkyward Sword HD’s Zelda and Loftwing Amiibo’s own fast-travelfeature.
Amiibo are cool collectibles that offer a range of digital bonuses to reatled games. However, their implementation inThe Legend of Zelda, has also begun to lock away both useful features and fan-favorite elements of the franchise, with Epona being the prime example. It would be a massive disappointment if Epona was constantly relegated to being an Amiibo exclusive from now on. As such, while Amiibo can still offer plenty of useful items, it would arguably be for the best if the next title simply included Epona without the need for any additional purchases.
