Zelda’s Master Sword Mystery: Is the Iconic Blade Losing Its Edge?

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Summary

  • Breath of the Wild downplayed the Master Sword‘s importance, making it optional for players.
  • Tears of the Kingdom highlighted the Master Sword by shattering it and involving it in the main story.
  • Echoes of Wisdom completely omitted the Master Sword, deviating from the traditional Zelda narrative.

In the epic saga known as “The Legend of Zelda”, the Master Sword stands out as one of the most renowned symbols, trailing only behind the Triforce in recognition. Though the Master Sword has transformed through various forms within the series, it has consistently maintained a significant role in the larger storyline. However, the more recent installments of “The Legend of Zelda” have brought some confusion to the Master Sword’s status, giving an impression that the franchise is uncertain about its stance on this iconic weapon.

In any “Legend of Zelda” tale, the Master Sword isn’t the absolute key element, but it often plays a crucial role. This is evident in games like “Tears of the Kingdom,” “Breath of the Wild,” and “Echoes of Wisdom.” However, these titles handled the blade differently, which makes it challenging to predict how the next game in the series will use it.

Zelda Can’t Seem to Decide How It Feels About the Master Sword

Tears of the Kingdom Puts the Master Sword Front and Center After BotW

Despite the significance of the Master Sword in the series known as “The Legend of Zelda”, the game “Breath of the Wild” did not feature the legendary blade prominently in its storyline. In earlier versions, the Master Sword was frequently woven into the narrative and played a crucial role as a significant plot device. However, in “Breath of the Wild”, the Master Sword is neither central to the game’s story nor essential for progression. Players can even finish the game without ever obtaining the Master Sword.

In “Tears of the Kingdom”, the Master Sword takes on a pivotal role in the main storyline, unlike its presentation in “Breath of the Wild”. The game starts with the sword being broken during Link and Zelda’s battle against Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle. Players then collect Dragon Tears throughout the game, each serving as fragments of a larger narrative that reveals Zelda transforming into a Light Dragon to mend the Master Sword.

In simpler terms, the game guides players towards the Master Sword by marking its position on a map. This sword is found inside the Light Dragon’s head. Once they retrieve it, they can use this sword to vanquish Ganondorf.

Echoes of Wisdom Leaves the Master Sword Out Altogether

In Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword played a less significant role compared to its importance in previous games, but it still appeared within the game. Contrastingly, Tears of the Kingdom brought it back into focus. However, Echoes of Wisdom took an intriguing approach by completely omitting the Master Sword from the game, which makes sense given that Princess Zelda is the main protagonist in this installment. Yet, some argue that the Master Sword could have made a cameo in Echoes of Wisdom, perhaps even being wielded by Link at the start before he was swallowed by a rift.

Essentially, the significance of the Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda series is currently unclear, as the games seem to be inconsistent about its importance. This inconsistency can be attributed to the complex timeline within the series, but even Breath of the Wild’s portrayal of the blade seems ambiguous given that its story occurs only a few years before Tears of the Kingdom. Consequently, it’s becoming harder to predict whether the Master Sword will make an appearance in future Zelda games or if it will have a substantial role in their narratives.

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2025-01-19 15:33