Why Revali is One of The Legend of Zelda's Best Characters
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- čas přidán 7. 11. 2022
- In this theory/analysis video, I analyze Revali from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to explain why I believe he’s one of the most complex, well-developed characters in the entire franchise, and why he deserves better.
Intro: 0:00
Who is Revali?: 1:32
Why is Revali?: 4:08
Revali's Diary in Japanese: 12:18
The Turning Point: 15:50
Conclusion: 19:21
Outro: 20:17
DiddyDub’s Post:
/ theory_why_revali_is_s...
NintendoBlackCrisis’ Video:
• Breath of the Wild: Li...
FuzzPunchArcade’s Video:
• Revali, Best Birb - Br...
QuestWithAaron’s Video:
• How Revali's Original ...
Age of Calamity Cutscenes from Prosafia Gaming:
• Hyrule Warriors: Age o...
Revali's Diary Footage from AuraChannelerChris:
• TLoZ: Breath of the Wi...
Windblight Dialouge Compilation:
ghirahimbo.tumblr.com/post/19...
Music in this Video:
► Nintendo
Outro Music:
► smarturl.it/zeldachill2 - Hry
That was a fantastic video delving beyond what's depicted on the surface of Revali's character! The flow of the video was excellent as always, I was immersed the whole time. I'm super excited to see more content from you and to see where your channel goes in the future ^^
Another fun fact about rivali. In the game, its said that no other rito has the same raw strength like him. So, because of that, all their bows are lighter and therefore, packs less of a punch.
Rivali is the only rito that was able to fly with a stronger bow that is able to fire further, hence the necessity for more parts/reinforcements, and therefore, increasing weight. This makes his ability to fly even more impressive, since it excels what even the strongest archers from rito could do.
Fun fact about ravali his name kinda sounds like ravioli
I know it’s Sad how much crap people give him
In game (Japanese), when he gives his power to you and when the power recharges, he calls it リーバルトルネード (Revali(‘s) Tornado).
Fun fact about Revali's fight against Windblight Ganon. His fight was more brutal than all the other champions for one simple reason. Ritos canonically have poor night vision. Guess when the fight took place, as we can see by Age of Calamity? Night. There wasn't anything lighting the battlefield either, other than the faint light from Windblight himself, as well as a few flashes of laser blasts. Not only was he fighting a losing battle against a lethal foe, he couldn't even see his inevitable demise coming. It makes it all the more sadder that his cockiness lasted 'til the very end, since his SOS came in much later than all the other champions. He was probably terrified of something deadly which he couldn't even see, yet he still waited 'til the very end to finally ask for help.
Exactly. And, it was raining (before he was assisted - it stopped when help arrived, probably to convey a sad mood to the players, but still), and bomb arrows are ineffective in the rain, so he could only use normal arrows. He probably could've done much better if he had shock arrows, and if people were watching him (he has reverse performance pressure). We can also see in AoC that Windblight can fucking deflect bomb arrows which is pretty unfair
Also Windblights attacks are literally made to rebound and hit you from behind. Talk about brutal
Add to this that since he couldn't see, the Windblight had a double element of surprise. Revali would have been concerned with Ganon when entering Medo, and piloted it... only to get a surprise attack from the Blight. His signal may have come late partly because it took him longer to even see his enemy and realize just how bad his situation was.
The other champions may have sent their own signal more as a way to tell their is a hiccup on their side too, while Revali was a genuine call for help. (they don't have his ego problem, and this is a really serious matter, so they should at least warn their people that something is wrong, even if they may be able to handle it, just for safety sake, while Revali may have want to solve it on his own, either considering others had better thing to do, or see that as just another trial to overcome to prove himself... or to not worry the rest about the fact it is also not going so great for him. It could even have been all of it.)
He was also the youngest with the two hylians of the team, so he may have even more of a drive to prove himself to be worth being on this team of elite warriors.
Could he not have used his bomb arrows as a light source?
Also Gannon rose slightly before he did in botw in age of calamity so the fight could’ve taken place anytime
@@SkitLegoIdeaTheory Yes, @oriane faton
It was raining and quite clearly night time, I don't think you've seen the cutscenes from that fight if you don't agree. His bomb arrows couldn't have produced light because, well, fire can't produce light if it doesn't exist... and even if it did produce light, it'd be of little help and hard to utilize if you're being chased around by lasers
I wanted to add, in his diary he’s a lot more supportive of Zelda than he is the other champions. It seems he realizes she’s having to work for her abilities as well, so he offers her more compassion. Imo this further shows his jealousy of how the other champions never had to work for their accomplishments.
Revali was the one Champion that really brought me tears. There is a little detail in his version of the Divine beast songs, if you listen to the background noises you can hear what sounds like the Morse Code for "SOS" (Save Our Ship). Revali's plays later into the song than the other Champions hinting that he is too arrogant to call for help until he realizes he's going to die...I don't think that's the case however. Earlier in the song you can hear the start of an SOS call that is then cut short, implying that Revali started calling for help sooner but he could probably also see that the other Champions had their own Beast's SOS messages playing too and made the decision "If somebody is come to help, go help the others first. Come for me last if I am still alive." This dude was ready to make the Sacrifice play if it meant there was a chance the others would be saved, I feel like that's the mark of a real Hero. Course that's not exactly stated anywhere concretely and is just my interpretation of his actions.
I thought that the SOS starting and then stopping was also per of his ego. While he initially called for help, he then took it back and felt that he could take on Windblight. He was too cocky to ask for help. Then once it’s almost too late, he finally sends his signal fully.
@@thenitpickchannel9993 that could be true
SOS doesn't stand for anything, it's just easy to play and recognize because it's dash-dash-dash dot-dot-dot dash-dash-dash
@@totallynotpaul6211 I thought it was save our selves
@@totallynotpaul6211 It stands for Save Our Ship like the OP said.
Honestly Teba is my favorite because, he’s not like the other “descendants” mainly because he isn’t related to Revali, but also because he was proactive in his journey, he didn’t need anyone to tell him to do it or need anything specific. He just saw the problem and was going to take care of it himself, because that was the right thing to do.
Riju and Sidon were kind of the same except Riju was a child and lost the thunder helm in the process and Sidon is a zora prone to electricity so he needed the help of a Hylian.
@@Droobie03 I think he means Sidon was the son of the ruler wasnt he? I do know that he was expected to be the next champion. It was his destiny basically.
I love how he just decided enough was enough one day and just decided to fight the divine beast or “blow it out of the sky” as it was similarly described.
I like Teba as a character. That’s why I was disappointed to learn that TotK just kind of throws him away.
@@Shinesprk me too. I was expecting to see more of him, he didn’t even get to say a word or two that was voiced
Revali's story actually is reminiscent of Windwaker's story: someone with no special background works hard to earn their power rather than inheriting it.
Very true
I didn't think of it like good take
Huh? Isn't that most links though at least?
It also works rather well since werent Ritos 1st introduced in wind waker
If you're talking about the Hero of Winds he DID INHERIT THE SPIRIT OF THE HERO even if he wasn't _related_ to the Hero of Time. It's just funny bumping into people who still think the Hero of Winds was just some "random kid" who earned the Spirit of the Hero when both his name and role as the game's protagonist _proove_ he was ALREADY the next incarnation of the Hero from the very beginning of the game.
Another theory I love about Revali which can also give a bit of insight to his character is that he’s fairly young as well, maybe even Link and Zelda’s age. Compared to the other Rito, he’s noticeably shorter, as if he hasn’t reached his full height yet. He also has these red cheek spots that can also be seen on all the Rito children but none of the adults, which might imply that he’s still a teenager. I personally love this theory as it makes he and Link’s rivalry more interesting if they’re of similar age. His achievements are also significantly more impressive if he’s also fairly young. It can even explain why his arrogance can be childish and immature, because he’s practically still in his teenage years.
I really like your theory, and it makes Revali make a whole lot more sense. for the most part, teens are trying to figure out the world and for the first time, try to figure out how they play a part in it. It's the first time for many people that they begin to see the world in a new way and it can be a world changer for many.
It makes the line in his journal "I could get used to this" make him appeal to me a lot. As he's growing, it shows that he is enjoying the praise and that being the best is a way to be accepted by others. I think this is why he is cocky, by doing so, he shows that he is the best and can be the person (or rito) that others expect from him.
But then you can see that it is a lot of weight to bear. So he isolates himself.
He doesn't want others to be there when he fails, or show others that their hero can mess up and get it wrong. He worry's that people won't see him as a hero if he showed signs of failure.
For an Adolescent to go through this type of development makes a lot of sense that if it were a rito that was older. I like that Revoli has so much depth to him!
Ooo I rlly like this theory
I was thinking that Revali's voice actor when someone asked him how old Revali was he said he's about 27-29 and I think he may be right about it. Old enough to have matured his gale and to be a Master to young Ritos but still young to have that attitude which of course defies what you would expect from someone who has matured as an adult.
@@betelgeuse5171 In the book "Creating a Champion" the devs commented how they wanted to design a rival character for Link. And in Urbosa's diary- she explicitly says that Zelda, Link, Mipha and Revali are in the same age range. Based on these facts, I don't think that Revali as a old as people imagine him to be...
Being a rival for Link doesn't necessarily implies that a rival must be the same age as the main character. As for Urbosa yes she says that they are young but I thought it's implicit they are not the same age, I mean, we know for sure Zelda is at least one or maximum three years younger than Link. But in the original version she just says that they are "the young promises of Hyrule" meaning that they are young but not so much as it's implied in the English version, where she says "they are SO young" where them being young is emphasized. Plus consider that Urbosa is at least 35-40 so it's normal for her to call them "young"@@mikaiink
My favorite Revali fact is his hope for the next generation. Creating a Champion mentions the flight range was also made to train young Rito, and side quests in Age of Calamity support this fact as well. Him getting to meet Teba and Tulin in Age of Calamity to see that his legacy was carried on put a smile on my face.
Honestly since Revali won a bunch of archery competitions, he probably spent all his earnings from those on the flight range
@@Toon_Lucario The "Making of a Champion" art book says that the flight range was built upon his request for winning a competition, so you're pretty on the mark there
To be fair, Teba is broken in Age of calamity
Btw Tulin isä the rito warrior in Tears of the Kingdom
Is*
I'm so sad that you didn't include the "Guess I was wrong about..... How lucky he would be" line. Arguably one of the best parts in the whole game
Fun fact: in Japanese he says a completely different line. It's something like "Link, you're the real key to everything (that is defeating Calamity Ganon and saving Hyrule)
@@betelgeuse5171 Additionally I’ve heard somewhere that just generally the English dub did Revali really dirty
Yeah it's true. I guess it's bc of localization. I studied translation and interpreting and it's curious to see how different the English and LatAm translations and localizations are compared to the original Japanese version. In many languages the translation is very similar, almost identical, but in English both the meaning and the personality are different. Some people wouldn't believe me when I told them Revali was indeed nice because he wanted do befriend Link at first and mistook his silence for arrogance@@OBDT_YT
@@betelgeuse5171Wow, that makes him a lot more believable, cause he really didn't have any reasons to treat Link that way. But he really thought that Link was a silent egocentric pr1ck😹
I also like the theory that he's, well, young. Like, same age as Link, or at the very least definitely not an adult. He still has the lil hatchling blushy marks, and hes not as big as full grown rito. Hes also called one of the younger Champions, i believe.
He's an experienced archer and fighter. But as an individual, he still had so much to learn. I bet you anything he really needed some friends.
(TOTK Discussion)
It felt like Tulin was going down the same path as Revali, pushing himself, isolating, trying to be the best on his own. But because Link became his friend, he learned how to accept help from others. Revali didn’t have that, and it shows.
Why you make me cry 😭 revali had no friends and I want to hug him 🫂😭
I also want to note that "Revali's Ferocity" makes much more sense than "Revali's gale" when you compare it to the names of the other champion's abilities. "Revali's Gale" takes the ability quite literally while "Revali's Ferocity" is representative of Revali as a person, kind of like Urbosa's Fury, Mipha's Grace and Daruk's protection.
Revali also resembles a blue jay, and that's likely not an accident. Blue jays are notorious for being very bold, aggressive, and territorial. Revali fits that bill pretty well
I think the dislike of Revali comes from the fact that like most bird characters in fiction he's an airhead (haha) and comes off as cliche. That's certainly how I saw him at first. You did a good job giving me a greater appreciation for him.
I’m really glad to hear that your opinion on him has been changed!
I don't think I have seen many other bird characters in fiction, but the ones I can think of aren't airheads. Do you have any examples?
Also, what do you think is the definition of an airhead?
An airhead is usually someone who has not much thought going on in their heads. Ditzy, daydreaming, a little bit dim... That's not Revali at all!
If you are thinking that "airhead" means cocky, then you're just wrong about the meaning of the word.
@@Margar02 he’s litteraly falco lol
@@Margar02 Jet from Sonic Riders is another bird character who is a jerk to Sonic
To be honest Mipha is the cliche imo. I love the other three so she's my least favourite. I really tried but couldn't like her (the only thing about her I found interesting was one moment in the DLC memory showing her interaction with Sidon). I felt she was too bland and I wish her character development was more focused on things like that moment and less on love interest. It's ok to make a character who loves Link in a romantic way but I think she was too much of that. It was like her life was almost just that, like she has no dignity and individuality. I even felt Yunobo is more important to Daruk than Sidon is to Mipha because it seems Link is always the first thing on her mind. I wish I could love her like I love the others but I wouldn't miss her if there was a new version of this game. Actually, I would appreciate if there was a new version of Mipha - that would be perfect.
I’ve loved Revali since the beginning. He is cool, highly skilled and a proud protector of his village. He can be cocky but I’ve always seen it as a mask to hide his worries and insecurities. He doesn’t want people seeing him fail, or see him be terrified of the fact he could die at any moment defending his home. He worked so hard to get where he was before his death while the rest of them were practically naturals from the day they were born in his eyes.
I've always loved Revali. At first it was really cause of his stand-offish attitude, since I find characters like that interesting. But then when you dive deeper into his character and everything you've mentioned, it really fleshes him out! Lovely video. Always great to find another Revali enjoyer.
It was the exact same for me. Liked him at first, got to know him, appreciated him more
Kinda had a similar thing, but instead, it is because I am really found of archers characters
Same
I’m always highly disappointed once someone refers to Revali as someone to be hated, since he’s just a “jerk”, I agree with you though, loved him from the start, always love the “edgy, rude” character apparently
Same
At first I didn't like Revali for his attitude, but in AoC I got to see more of him and also got to play as him. Then I understood why he was the way he was. He became my favorite champion, plus my boy is Gooood.
If it makes you feel bad He's much more pleasant in the original translation. The english localization team completely butchered him
Revali instantly became one of my favorite characters because of how much he stood out to me. This video just made me love him even more
I'd like to add that Revali also reads like a lancer character. they work best when they are a mirror of what the main character could have been like, if not for that one difference. The more we understand about Revali, the more we understand about Link, and vice versa.
15:30 I think since the og name was Revali's Rage/Ferocity, a better English name for it to make it both fit the Wind theme and keep its origin with rage would be Revali's Tempest, as a tempest is a powerful storm often used to depict the rage and fury of the gods/God. Its even a synonym for Rage.
I am french, so our translation seem to not have done him as dirty as the english one... and that with other factor made Revali my fav of the champions. So, I always was a bit sad to see a lot of people hating on him. So, I am glad to see that video !! Thank you for doing it.
It's so nice to see more people care about Revali!
Although, I think that part of the reason many players overlooked his character is because the other champions are fairly straightforward in that regard. If someone isn't expecting a deeper character, it's easy to miss it, which is deeply unfortunate.
While I think “the best” Zelda character is subjective, I do get what you mean, revali’s character is more complex than it seems.
But the thing is, the people who made his character obviously want you to dislike him at first. I feel like what most people missed is empathy for him.
Because there was no redemption arc. He was despised then died and seems like he's trying to make up by giving this ability to link as an apology
The people who made his character got shafted with translations apparently
He was the only Champion that didn't originate from a famous bloodline and who's superpower was the result of training rather than an inherent ability
Him and Link could've been best friends if Revali had known that Link earned the Master Sword as much as Revali earned his title as Champion
so sad, honestly
The way I've always interpreted Revali is: he's arrogant and boastful but he also REALLY CARES about being as great as he says he is and being the hero that everyone needs him to be. He is insecure and he has a sense of honor and care for his people, and really wants to EARN the right to call himself the hero. He's as hard on himself as he is on others. He's a very relatable character when you see him for who he is, because many of us have been in that position at some point... not feeling like we really earned something we have, putting on that face for the world while we try to work things out.
Before this video, I had a raging hate for him. His arragonce just annoyed me. But after, I consider him more as someone who hides their feelings and insecure. Definitely, bumping him higher on my character list.
If it makes you feel better His original personality in the original translation is much more pleasant
Yeah, I wasn’t exactly fond of him either, until I got the DLC and saw that his personality was basically just a mask. He’s been my favorite since
I love Revali. He's cocky but not to the point of being unlikeable and as you've said, digging a little deeper reveals a lot of hidden layers and I love that about his character.
This needs more views, more people should understand his other side. I've just realized that someone's view on a video game character can reflect themselves - dismissing Revali as nothing but a jerky bitch and not noticing the evidence right in front of them means a poor sense of empathy
I appreciate it! The video is only a day off, so I’m hopeful it will get more views in the future
Seriously! So well made!
Yeah, well, I don’t know about empathy, but I see a LOT of myself in him. And not in a good way. Putting on a mask to hide your insecurities, working hard at something, being put on a pedestal and trying to live up to your own reputation so as not to disappoint anyone… And when someone else has it better or is given more importance for reasons you can’t see and it makes you jealous… Revali, though, he tried to be cordial at first, but never got a response. And if that happened to me, I’m not sure I wouldn’t act like that, even if I’m not usually confrontational.
He’s my favourite Champion, but not because he’s cool. Because I see too much of myself in him and how much he struggles.
@@olivierdubreuil-gagnon2201 Well said
But for people who didn't play the DLC, revali really just is the memories, and they don't make him look good
Usually we hate the people that relates to our defects and skills. So makes sense for Revali to dislike Link, as both are normal heroes. Thats why he hates that Link is the main hero and he a secondary assistant. If both are the same, why one is magically elevated while the other is sidelined. I guess thats why he point out so much the Master Sword: They are the same, but he doesnt have a mythical weapon and that makes is a lesser Rito, and thats why he tries to compensate perfecting Revali's gale ("i dont have a special weapon, but i am better because i developed my own personal skill")
I'm so happy i found this, Revali is my favourite character so it's nice to actually see someone shine some light at him.
Another note is that his dialouges in Medoh is also pretty different in the japanese translation, which also solidifies your points (:
I just realized that Revali is the only one who had to train his feathers off for his ability. Everyone has the ability almost at the very start. But Revali trained day and night before his crops finally bear fruits. I now respect him now.
I appreciate the fact that there was nothing that made Revali special aside from his determination/hard work. I didn’t really read him as arrogant as much as proud- rightfully so.
I admit, I thought Revali was an ass my first couple of playthroughs. After playing Champion's Ballad and AoC, it's much more clear that he hid his true self behind a mask of false bravado. I can't say that he's my favorite character, but I certainly feel I know his true self much better today.
I always loved revali, since the first moment. My first thought was “he’s just jealous”, which then transformed into “maybe he just wishes to be recognized alongside link”. After AoC and the Champion’s ballad DLC, I understood that he was just scared of losing everything he worked for, he was scared of not being good enough, and this video explained all of this perfectly. Excellent work portraying the magnificence of this character to everyone else!
Pd: I think Mipha is the other champion who has a “character development”, not as strong as revali but maybe she might be worth giving a chance? I’d love another video like this from you but for Mipha
I never thought I’d fall in love with a fictional character, much less, a bird.
But a handsome, complicated, sexy bird boy anyways. It’s his “otherness” that makes him so attractive. He’s a good guy but he’s “not” a good guy. He hates Link because he loves him.
I love him.
He hates link because he loves him?
…
Um. I love revali too… but let’s not make the poor bird gay, ok?
@@WolfWriterL.P ^ But he is gay. It doesn’t have to be explicitly said in order for that to be the case. He’s sassy, appearance-oriented, he comments on how he “quite likes the scarf” the champions are given by the King of Hyrule, he’s way too invested in Link, it’s just his general energy.
I recognized the underlying issues Revali had about halfway through the memories. All I can say is Revali is LUCKY Link was the strong silent type, because if he was the "Well excuuuuuuse me, Princess!" Link, he'd be torn apart, and then Revali would have become the shy type.
Thank you
I have a friend who hates Revali, meanwhile, he’s always been my favorite character in Breath of the Wild. That friend asked me “Why do you like him more than someone like Daruk?” That’s not to say I dislike Daruk, I still love him, but Revali is more three dimensional as you said. Overall, he’s always been an excellent character imo and always will be.
absolutely love how those two chapters are called “Who is Revali?” and “Why is Revali?”
But nobody ever asks "how is Revali?"😢
I love how Revali's gone from one of BOTW's most hated characters, to most misundertood to most appreciated characters
Finally someone who is on the Revali side. :) Not a Revali hater.
i was just talking to a friend about botw's character writing when the algorithm recommended me this video!! a wonderful analysis of one of my favorite characters in botw (and one of my favorite characters in all of media period). i have and will continue to sing praises for revali's writing to the ends of the earth. somehow, i'm always drawn to prideful, arrogant characters, and 90% those characters are actually using cockiness as a mask for their insecurities. when i was playing breath of the wild for the first time, revali immediately stuck out to me as that kind of character, so it was a little frustrating to see people apparently dimiss or not see that part of him that was so obvious to me. so it's very validating whenever i come across someone taking the time and care to understand him & not just hate on him for being an asshole. which he is, but i love him for it anyways
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! I definitely worked hard to do my favorite Zelda character the justice he deserves!
Recently, I thought back to Breath of the Wild and everything in the game that I remembered and loved. One of the biggest standout memories from that game was Revali. He was my favorite character from that game, but at the time (and through subsequent playthroughs) I couldn't figure out why he was so appealing to me, even when all the other champions seemed like better people than the arrogant bird. But then I watched and rewatched this video and the fuzz punch arcade video, which made me fully realize just how deep his character actually was. I have this thing about always being optimistic and sympathetic about other people, even if they're complete pieces of crap. And that connection made me realize why I didn't hate Revali. Something inside me said that he wasn't a bad person, just a broken person. That something inside me said it so quietly that I didn't even realize it. I'm not much of a feeling person, so I had to search to figure out what about this character appealed to me. And I found it.
I absolutely adore his resilience. It's a powerful resilience that pushes him so far. Hes my favourite LoZ character, and every theme for him is amazing. His character is super underappreciated. He's also quite humble even though he treats people pretty different. He was only mistaken about Link being arrogant.
He's probably the most insecure champion, and it's nice to see someone different to the rest. He really doesn't deserve so much hate.
Revali's Gale is the most important champion ability.
I could do without flurry rushes or the others but I go for Vah Medoh right away.
I sometimes even turn them off until I need them.
IMHO it makes the game alot more fun, especially since alot of climbing is involved in the game.
I love his ability the most too but I don’t like his cocky/dismissive attitude. Easily my least favorite in that aspect.
This was an amazing video! I didn’t think anyone would want to take the time to actually figure out Revali’s character! He is the best character in the Zelda series! I completely agree with everything in this video!
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked it! I wish I could have included some more facts, but there were things I just couldn't make fit naturally into the script. Maybe I'll do a bonus video next if people want to see that!
I'm surprised to know that Revali was the most hated champion. Yeah, he can seem kinda abrasive from time to time, since he was the only one with a hostile attitude towards Link, but, I thought it was quite clear that he was overcompensating, I mean, that was what made him my favourite champion, even though characters like Daruk are the type of character I'm more inclined to like, but Revali was quite complex in comparison, and well, a small dose of cocky attitude can be somewhat charming, specially when there's more outside of that and when it feels earned, and he achieved that, so, yeah, he is a fantastic character. Also, I didn't made the connection about the training grounds and Revali not wanting them to see him fail when he was training, so they could always trust their champion, it makes so much sense, and only adds more praise to his character, because it makes so much sense coming from him. I really liked the video.
The most painful thing I feel about Revali is that he never got to teach his Gale to someone else in person. He died alone, in a fight where he was supposed to be a part of a team for the first time, knowing that the skill he'd spent his entire life developing, may never be inherited.
Another thing people miss, is the fact that he's an adolescent. Revali has two pink spots on his cheeks, this is something that all the Rito children have, and not a single adult has. Throw in Teba's height over Revali's and you realise that Revali is a teen like Link and Zelda, he died as a kid.
After dedicating his short life to his craft, he dies alone and as far as he knows, his life's work is forgotten. That... that just kills me. That's why when Teba tells Revali that his flight range is indeed still being used in AoC and Tulin told Revali he would master the Gale, I legit cried.
Also it's very easy to forget that wind is different in every location and weather, unpredictable and his Gale is based on controlling said unpredictable wind. It's even more understandable for him to be insecure, since if he ever encounters a wind condition he hadn't trained for, well, it would fail.
Revali is painfully real, kinda like Sebastian from Hogwarts Legacy x')
I never liked Ravioli, but he is such an amazing character.
It’s Revali, Ravioli is a kind of pasta
That's the joke..
i will literally die for revali he's my absolute favourite comfort character
Great video. Thank you so much. I love how complex Revali is. I love when there's something in a story that gives room to analysis (and he's THE character when it comes to analysis). However, even if he wasn't that deep I would also love him just because it's refreshing to have an important and powerful character, apart from villains, who adds conflict and doesn't treat Link like the sacred and 'must be adored and praised' hero (points to Zelda in this case too). And I also think he's really cool and funny. Although Daruk is supposed to be the comic relief (and he's adorable), Revali is the one who makes me laugh.
I know about the mistranslations but even playing in English I don't think it made him bad, evil or 'just a jerk'. I believe the worst we see about him is in his diary (making Zelda wait for his answer; looking forward for Zelda, Link and the king on their knees asking for his help; saying Link must be slow witted and those things about Zelda struggles). He is a jerk in those entries but it's exactly what makes him more human (even being a bird) and more real than other characters. We say awful things when we're angry and frustrated, sometimes even to people we love. No one is kind all the time (again, see how Zelda used to treat Link and even how she's angry with Hylia in a cutscene). Moreover, I'm under the impression that even in his diary he wears a mask sometimes. It's like he's trying to force himself to be that persona. For instance, when he says he can't understand the troubles of talentless people he's not being completely true to himself. He knows he's talented and he's praised for this but it actually brings him the same kind of troubles Zelda has. It makes him under pressure, insecure and afraid to fail. It's contradictory how he says he can't understand but at the same time shows empathy for Zelda recognising how she's trying her hardest and how her failures weigh on her. While 'it's simply not good enough' is not the kindest thing to say about her situation, he says almost the same thing to himself in that cutscene where HE is the one struggling and failing (ironically, Zelda is the one who witness this moment). So he does understand her troubles, he shows some compassion and wants her to succeed because he sees how she has to work hard like he did. I love how there are similarities between Revali and Zelda, Zelda and Link and Revali and Link and the three are still so different. When it comes to Link, even though Revali is insecure, I don't think it's all about jealousy. I think he firmly believes he's not capable enough because he's not aware of his efforts (something he values more than 'chosen one' powers). His tones of surprise, as mentioned in the video, shows how he changes his opinion little by little (perfect voice acting). Even with mistranslations, his post-boss speech and monologue are my favourite and when I played I thought it was clear he was grateful and he recognised he was wrong about Link. It would be too forced if Revali was like 'Thank you so much. I owe you everything. I was so wrong about you. I'm really sorry.' Everything he says and the way he says after we defeat Windblight Ganon fits his personality and also shows great character development in a way that at least I (and I believe Link too) can see how he changed. Some quotes like 'I suppose I should thank you now my spirit is free', 'Feel free to thank me now. Or... never mind, just go.' and the one in which he calls Link lucky really put a smile on my face. I just can't help but imagine he's the character who required more effort to develop and that the developers and his voice actor had a lot of fun bringing him to life.
Revali is one of my favorite characters for the exact reasons you mentioned here but so many people dont give him the time of day, it's nice to see other people appreciating him
A shockingly well made video with an eye for detail? It's a crime this channel doesn't have more subscribers. You're a fellow researcher after my own heart friend!
I've always ALWAYS told people that Revali was a great character when Botw came out, I've been telling them for years but it made me so salty that some of them kept saying "Idc he's still an asshole". I mean, I understand people may not like him because of preferences but we cannot lie that he's probably the one of the less monodimensional characters in the Zelda series and maybe the most interesting. He's not born with a gift, he worked his ass off to create his ability. And still he even get the recognition he deserves.
Now that TotK came out more and more people are giving more attention to Botw's plot, more of them are finally giving Revali the respect he deserves
man, it makes me so happy to see some revali appreciation! and if i may add, tears of the kingdom makes him even more impressive by establishing the other three champions as descendants of the ancient sages as well, but it’s teba and tulin who are descended from the sage of wind, not revali! meaning he manifested and mastered the power of a SAGE through pure skill and diligence, without a blood connection. revali dislikers simply hate to see a self-made bird winning
The story of rivals has always been a driving factor for motivation and a desire to improve onesself. You should always appreciate a rival, it is someone who recognizes and feels threatened by your existence, because you're worth something to them
Actually in the Japanese version, when he gives Link Revali's Gale, he says something like: "I must admit you're a good warrior."
So he does admit it openly. I play it in Japanese and subs in my native language. In that way, I've noticed there are many things that are lost in translation, like how incredibly polite is Zelda's speech as a princess. She never orders Link around, she more like implores him to leave her alone, knowing he's following the king's orders.
And yes, I agree with you Revali is just misunderstood, he's just a proud, self-made, young warrior that felt rejected by someone whom he respected by his prowess. And well, he's stubborn but that's only the flip side of the coin of his incredible determination, that's why he acts like that. Amazing video!
I think a lot of us can relate to him. He was my favorite champion. He worked for it and we can relate to that. For example I work sales and I am one of the only two people in the store that has to work for everything while everyone else gets free handouts.
Proud to be a Revali fan since day one. That bird has my heart fr
I know that this video is a little older now, but I just wanted to say that I appreciate the thought that you put into these videos! I also think it is super interesting how each language puts a certain spin on the characters; I didn't realize how different the Japanese/original version is! I'll have to take a look at QuestWithAaron's video!
Wonderful video, I certainly binged it and rewinded some clips because I didn't remember as much about the character except his cutscene which I quote frequently. I hope to become like Revali not in his rudeness but how hard working he is.
I love Revali so much and the music in that dungeon is incredible.
Really great video. The more I learn about Revail the more I love him as a character.
I like how seeing all this, there's specific moments where Link kinda just, decides that it's a moment of calm and just lets his personality open, for example when he makes seal jokes when buying a sand seal, or when he asks random stuff to npcs like Paya's mark, it is logical that link kinda also has a life that he hides, a normal life rather than the life of only a knight, which is somewhat of a nice detail.
You’ve opened up my eyes. Revali is the underdog champion, who had to struggle towards the top. He earned his stripes, standing tall beside them!
s-tier video, ive been preaching since 2020 how good of a character he is since then. im glad more are really starting to appreciate him. revali is definitely one of my favorite video game characters of all time, it made me so damn happy to see him have a whole level and boss fight in age of calamity, just the fact we got more with him in said game was just simply amazing.
in some way, I find his character relatable. trying your best and pushing yourself to your limit, being insecure and hiding away from others because you don’t want them to see you fail. it’s funny how much stuff you have to look for in the game can tell you.
either way, great vid. the last bit gave me chills, just simply remarkable. 👍
Me and all my friends and my parents like Revali so seeing him this hated is truly sad, well at least for me.
I adored fuzzpunch arcade's vids, I thought analysis like theirs couldnt be anywhere else and was sad to realize their production basically stopped during the Urbosa video. To see this video have almost 3 times the views of their Revali vid makes me so happy! His social status, lack of a divine ability, and his concern for Link in those Windblight voicelines are details I am thrilled to see get recognition, it's amazing! Aside the point, calling him the Champion of the people additionally reminds me of Man on the Internet's lyrical theme for Revali, I feel the song paints him in that same light and its quite neat. :D
At first i didn't like revali, but after i had gotten more memories and read his diary, i had began to like him. He is now my favorite champion, my favorite botw character, and one of my favorite loz characters in general. I think you did him a lot of justice:)
It really is too bad Tears of the Kingdom is basically a Breath of the Wild reboot story-wise. They acknowledge NOTHING of the last game, and it kind of takes me out of the story a bit. Not really a "direct" sequel, more of just A sequel.
Honestly, it just shows that the English localisation doesn't do Revali justice, thanks for making this video and shining some light on a character I originally wrote of as an asshole, I see him in a new light now
A lot of it doesn't do the man or the game justice. But they saw blue bird and thought - Oh, he's just the Falco of Zelda.
I'm playing through BotW for the very first time, but having seen others play the game I wasn't a fan of Revali at first. But this video, along with just beating Windblight (literally beat him earlier today) and freeing Revali's spirit, have given me a far greater appreciation of him and his character. So thanks for making this and for making me look at him a little deeper, as I haven't played the DLC, it's clear I would have missed a whole lot more about him as a character.
Amazing video. Almost cried when you mentioned the reason why his training ground was far away. I feel like a lot of people relate with revali
With totk out it makes me like revali even more because he was the only champion who wasn’t related to a sage at all, revali was just him
Thank you so much for this video. :')
i know hes a bit more pompous outwardly in english as opposed to the original japanese but i feel like its a part of his overall weird charm that i love so much about his character
AMEN!
These are my exact thoughts on Revali and more people should hear them. He might be my favorite character of all, surely my favorite in BOTW.
I always felt crazy in my love for this sarcastic bird he is snappy and funny. At first I didn't care too much but by the end of his quest line i knew he was much more soft than he would let you believe.
Help this made me tear up a bit 😢 This video made me love him even more seeing that he feels like people doesnt recognize his ability and he had to push himself harder to get the recognition he deserved. I personally find his character very cool and his character design also one of my favs.
From the bottom of my heart, this was truly one of the best video essays i have EVER watched about ANY character on youtube. Every segment connects very well with the previous one, there is great citation of sources and usage of clips from the game. It helps that this video essay is about my favourite character in BOTW so far haha
I will definitely be coming back to this video. It really is perfect and it made me feel even more for the character of Revali. I hope you have a wonderful day! ❤
This is a great way to explain Revali's character. I just played through Breath of the Wild's main story before starting Tears of the Kingdom and then watched the Champion's Ballad cutscenes, and Revali berating himself to push himself harder might be the best delivered dialogue in the entire game. It really sells him as this insecure warrior who wants to do whatever it takes to be the very best. Although he was being an arrogant show-off, I was genuinely cheering for him when he attempted Revali's Gale again and pulled it off with Zelda watching.
On a side note, since the Champion abilities are given 0 explanation (easily my biggest problem with the story), I think it's possible Revali's Gale is actually some kind of supernatural ability, but he didn't really have any way of knowing he had it like the others did. He instead would've learned to use this ability on his own while training and mastered it, thinking it to be another of his many great skills.
Also Revali still has pink cheeks just like the young Rito fledglings have. Maybe it's a subtle hint to say that there may be something he experienced very young that has stuck with him and he cannot let go of.
Revali is actually my favorite character. I figured he wasn't a real cocky bird. Definitely looked like he was compensating.
Its so interesting how playing a game in a different language can make you have a totally different view, the story is the same but its the little thing like that that adds up. In french, when is skill is ready he will say “Use my rage whenever you want!” so you can see he is not totally an asshole and while he may have not liked link before the calamity, I think that after his death theres not much reason for him to act like this anymore
Revali was my favourite character right from the beginning. I still remember playing BotW for the first time back in March of 2017. I'm a pilot, and I immidieatly knew that his character is a stereotypical portray of pilots in culture. Yes, we are sassy, yes we love to show off, but this is just a persona we take up. In reality we spend hours honing our skills, and things rarely go smoothly on the first try. This was pictured perfectly, and later media (Champions' Ballad and Age of Calamity) only added to this.
I'm happy to see this video. Revali has always been my favorite champion, and it was nice to see him be able to put his mouth where his money is in age of calamity. And also, I really am really happy to see someone who doesn't think he's a complete jerk.
I love Revali. Front or not characters like Revali end up being the most loyal. We may not of gotten to see it but every character I see like Revali are the most loyal of them all.
The DLC memory of Zelda meeting Revali was what really made me catch that he wasn’t always cocky. I kinda do that too. I published a book at the beginning of this year and since then, I have noticed I’ve been a little more cocky and prideful since. But I’m also a bit lonely sometimes, and I just hide it with the fact of what I’ve done.
I always knew I had a connection with Revali
I miss the champ abilities. I wonder why link canonically loses them PARTICULARLY urbosas and Daruks since both have inheritors of the abilities that can guide link to continue using them. Daruks protection is not just gone from link either which is nuts to me that yo bobo doesn’t seem to have it anymore. But I miss regalia gale not bc of its convenience but bc you’re right it was the only ability that held weight and was the only one I kept on always.
revali is my favorite zelda character he deserves a plush to be in smash and most definetly he needs to be playable in botw 2 alongside all the other champions
Very very minor totk spoiler...
Ive only completed the Zora and Rito areas at this point, but so mipha has her statue and given the zoras long lives most of them still remember her and her theme plays at her statue. Daruk had his face put into a mountain face and a direct decendent. Even urbosa, without a monument of some kind was a great cheif and made a big enough name for herself to be remembered outright. But ravali....had nothing left behind. Even in botw he was barely mentioned by name by the other viligers and even though some of those same characters like teba are around theres no reminate at all of revali. Execpt at the training range. The slower version of revalis theme that plays there is beautiful, and as fair as ive found, the only thing that acknowedges his exsistance. Granted I cant say for urbosa and daruk for sure yet, but I just sat and listened to his theme for so long becuase I knew what that melody was and who it was for. It made me so sad to think that unless you know whos theme that is, no one else remembers or realy knows of raveli.
Thank you! I’ve always loved Revali his character is so complex! He isn’t just an asshole and I have a hard time explaining this to people. The series NEEDED Ravali they needed a conflicting champion that sometimes you wanna punch but sometimes you wanna hug and dig further into his character.
Revali is a great character. I also like Kass, too. He's a little cocky, but besides that, he's impressive.
This really did change my perspective on the character, I always liked him more than other people, and I could tell something was weird about his arrogance, but I could never tell what, and all the comments in here talking about how he was the last to send his sos, or how he was basically fighting wind blight blind, it’s just sad to think about.
I’ve always liked this scene 12:19 because birds do usually do that quick head turn thing when looking for something, or looking at specific things… at least I think?
I've always loved Revali, I've never understood the hate he gets. The fact he's cocky and mean but is hard-working and insecure just adds a lot more depth to his character than most Zelda characters and that stood out the moment he was introduced
You know what's missing from Breath of the Wild? The cutscene where Revali originally gives Link the paraglider 100 years ago. Think about it, the paraglider has the Rito emblem on it, it could only have come from them. The first time I played BotW, when I got to Rito village and got the memory, I figured "okay, this guy's a jerk, but he's also a main character so I'm guessing in the end he makes friends with Link and begrudgingly comes to respect him, oh that must be where the paraglider comes from! Revali must have made it so Link would have a way to fly up to Vah Medoh." And I was waiting for this cutscene after beating Windblight, but instead there's just nothing. We were robbed of Revali's story.
The thing I think that makes me the most sad about this is that this indicates that people will rather see the surface level of a person and never see their hard work or feelings. I understand this is a video game but we analyse characters with the same level of thought that we put towards actual people. I could tell based on the bits of story I got for him that he was as you described but most people will just immediately think he is some arrogant asshole.
Another thing especially now that I’ve played totk, spoilers below
Turns out Teba and Tulin were born into a bloodline of the sage of wind, giving them the abilities to master it, something Teba didn’t accomplish, but his son Tulin, inspired by the champion Revali, did. He was able to use his wind power he inherited, and I’m sure as he grows older, he’ll be able to use it in a way better form.
And that makes Revali’s feats even more impressive, he wasn’t even born into the bloodline of legendary figures in the past, he made his gale himself! Revali’s my favorite champion, and while I’m upset he isn’t mentioned as much as the other champions in totk, I’m glad there’s this little details to pick up on.
Revali was always my favorite and then I found out everyone hated him… his voice actor is so good and I thought it was obvious he was tsundere
Glad im not the only one who love Revali. He's a great champion and had a wonderul voice actor.
The rest of the Champions should have had the growth displayed by Revali. For Revali, it was his hidden insecurity causing envy which became respect. For Daruk, his fear of dogs should have been elaborated. Maybe he could have actually been a coward, descended from a line of heroes and trying to live up to his own destiny until finally Link inspires him with Courage (spelt with a capital on purpose) given that that is what Link represents (literally, given the Triforce he wields). For Urbosa, she could have struggled with opening up to those close to her, a cold warrior, who then begins to feel almost maternal to Zelda. For Mipha, I have honestly no idea what to do with her.
For Mipha I think it would be nice if she realised romance isn't everything and then she could grow up into an independent and strong woman. She could still be in love with Link but not make him her top priority. Something a little similar to Sansa Stark development but without those heavy topics.