Is Zelda Better Without Companions?
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
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Companions are one of the most long-honored traditions of the Zelda series. Since Ocarina of Time, they have found their way into the majority of entries, but given how the franchise has moved away from them in recent years, it begs the question: should they ever return? To figure out where I stand, I wanted to look at the ways in which they have been implemented in the series in order to determine whether or not Zelda is better without companions?
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0:00 The Zelda Formula
3:21 How Companions Influence Gameplay
13:25 How Companions Influence Story
23:59 Would Breath of the Wild Have Been Better With A Companion?
28:30 Is Zelda Better Without Companions?
#zelda #breathofthewild #ocarinaoftime - Hry
I accidentally referred to Ganondorf as Ganon at one point. Take my gamer card.
I have officially revoke your gamer card
I will
How dare you 😂
I am officially revoking your gamer card, as well as sanctioning you for this heinous crime. May The goddesses have mercy on your soul
Actually Dr. Ganon is the scientist it's Ganondorf who's the monster
I haven’t watched yet but I wanna be clear. I will tolerate exactly 0 Midna slander.
100% agree
exactly
Aight I’ve watched. Damn good video and Midna remains undefeated 😂
This was a certified Midna W moment.
What about negative 2 Midna slander?
I actually really liked Navi when i was a child. She gave me the feeling that I'm not alone in this world. The fact that she flew to intresting stuff, made me only think that she had her own character and we would discover the world as a team.
Yeah, even today i don't find any of the companions bad, love them all, the only i could argue is a bit meh is Ezlo, Link's hat on Minish Cap Game. But even then i don't dislike him, all companions bring something to the table.
I never understood the Navi hate. I'm the same as you. Zelda was my first 3D experience, i played it even before Mario64 and having Navi around felt calming, not annoying. Since i was mentioning it anyways, i'll also add that playing Mario64 sometimes made me feel reeeally nervous, because everything felt so empty and lonely
Navi is the first companion in the series, so obviously she wasn’t going to be the best because Nintendo was still learning how to make great companions. Hence why Navi hate can go burn for all I care :)
@@catdownthestreet Yup, they literally solved the problem with Tatl in Majora's
@@hugosilva9502 tatl is amazing and i love her lol
Look- I know the manga isn’t canon. But I like what they did with Navi at the end. Instead of her just leaving without a word at the end, she said her goodbyes and expressed how she grew to love Link. What started out as a her coming along because she HAD to, became that she accompanied Link on his journey because she WANTED to. I think that’s really sweet^^
The Zelda mangas are superb and I will die on this hill
Show me what them wings do
@@karenamyx2205 ☠️
Wait there’s Zelda mangas
@@Darkwolf_1017 Yup, made by Akira Himekawa. They're not 100% faithful (most of the time because adapting all of the dungeons faithfully isn't specially compelling), but they're definitely worth a shot. Specially the Twilight Princess manga, those are by far the most complete imo.
Midna is the gold standard. Not only is she an excellent character, she lends character depth to Link through their interactions. What little emotion Link shows, he does it during his exchanges with her. You can't get much better than that.
and she probably gave a sexual awakening to a lot of wierdos on the internet
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!
Just don't google her...
@@wdgaster7858 tbf she did call Link a good boy which I was here to make a joke about, but I'll take that advice.
I failed to listen before.
@@wdgaster7858 Too bad, I google her all the time~
Do google her, with respect
Midna alone has made all of the other annoying companions worth it.
Midna is not a companion.
She's a waifu.
@@xiarno3373 And linebeck's a chad
Counterpoint, Midna makes all the others look all the worse in comparison and intolerable due to that.
@@yodal_ Doesn't that further enhance my point?
@@xiarno3373 especially her true form
Fun fact about Navi's "Listen!" voice line in the 3DS remaster (idk if it was like this in the original version): if you are underwater and Navi says "Listen!" she will sound muffled. I always thought that was pretty cool.
I think that's only in the 3DS. I loved the 3DS version of Oot.
Hm. I do like that addition. But to me the "pc port" is the definitive version (modded to help with various issues like the iron boots being mapped to c). The 3ds version horribly damaged the atmosphere in multiple locations - including the fight with Gannon, the shadow temple, under the well, and others; I'm not happy with many of the animations either (despite being smoother and more complex). @@hugosilva9502
Linebeck was an amazing companion, he literally carries the game alone, and without him, the game would feel more hollow
Phantom hourglass has the most special little space in my heart ❤
Linebeck is based as fuck, man
Him actually picking up the sword and stabbing Bellum is one of the best moments, courage isn't the lack of fear but overcoming it.
did you ever read the manga, it goes a lot deeper into linebeck, and he almost sacrifices himself, its so sad
Honestly Zelda in Spirit Tracks is my favourite companion in the series.
I absolutely I adore how they made Zelda such a core character to the story and gameplay, with a very enjoyable character arc.
The final fight where she fights alongside Link and even drives the sword into the demon king's head feels like such a great way to end the game because both Link and Zelda worked together to achieve this the entire way, definitely a very nice way to go with Zelda's character for a change.
I was looking for this comment. Everyone praised Midna and she was very good, but... Zelda herself as not just amusing, but actually very helpfull companion, is the absolute winner. Even just for the very ending, her cute run to help hold the sword with Link and defeat evil together hand in hand is the purest definition of "Zelda story".
Personally, I view her as less the companion of the game and more the protagonist of the story. Sure, we play as Link, but it's Zelda's journey and character development that makes the game amazing. Link's the silent companion that's just along for the ride.
She has the best in-game mechanics of the companions. While Midna has a unique power set compared to Zelda and a well done redemption arc in contrast to Zelda's growth arc, she isn't quite as integral to the puzzles and combat as Toon Zelda in Spirit Tracks is.
Honestly I would freakin LOVE it if they tried this formula of Zelda as a Co-Main character again and just straight up make it a multi-player adventure with one person playing as Link and another as Zelda.
Agreed but to me it was Linebeck, the character development of this man was incredible, to see him start as a Coward and a Liar to become a man with courage and able to care about someone else than himself was truly something
@@jeremalice oh absolutely, his using the phantom sword is such a great scene, entertaining character into a damn good friend, with a killer theme too, the full package!
Personally, my thought is that you should have a companion. But they shouldn't be a glorified tutorial provider, they should be a friend who talks to you and keeps you from being alone.
well said
True, but with Breath of the Wild loneliness was such a key element of the game, and I think a companion would have undermined that. So I suppose it depends on the game and how it wants you to feel.
Edit: ah, nvm, pretty much exactly what he said in the video
FFXV handles this all too well. You aren't just with a partner. You're the leader of a squad. Being a prince, you have the authority but your inexperience still makes it feel like you aren't really above them, you feel on the same level as them. They also have their own feelings about the places they're exploring or the situation they're in, and character's personalities bounce off each other and they get into minor verbal arguments, and they even respond negatively and positively to your performance. I'd really like Square Enix to make a game like that again. Other RPGs have such stagnant characters that don't speak or have an opinion on anything until a plot point comes up.
@@russellmlfranklin True but this is BOTW2. I don't want to effort in the 1st game (even if you can beat it in 20 minutes) invalidated because of the THEME of the game. Has no one watched Made in Abyss. Its entirely possible to have both Zelda and Link experience that together though you'd have to explain how Zelda and Link windbomb and BBLS together. I dunno.
Anyways just the mere teaser that Link and Zelda are beneath the castle on an adventure together is an exciting process.
Like Midna ?
One interesting thing about Midna is that she is useful without being patronizing. I still remember when I got stuck in the lakebed temple, I asked for help and the way her dialogue was written not only felt like it was usefull but it also felt less like a hint and more like an intervention, like she was trying to figure it out as much as I was, felt like a true companion.
She honestly never felt helpful, even in the second half of the game. In the first half she is outright patronizing but it makes sense since she's meant to be a capital B towards the player at that point in her character arc. But most of the time she doesn't even give info on enemies and she tended to only help with the puzzles I already found obvious while being silent on the ones I got stuck on.
I found Fi to be more generally useful and most of my issues with her are addressed in SSHD. Most of what I'm going to ask companions about is enemies and having the option to ask Fi for different types of hints rather than just one was great.
Was really hoping Rauru's spirit would follow Link through his arm in TotK
Yea, instead we got some clumsy kiddo-champions
As is mentioned in the story, in the plot Mineru putting her soul in the Purah Pad was done so she could follow Link and talk to him, but Ganondorf interfered and trapped her as a mute inside the Pad so she had to do the mech as a Plan B to help Link.
I think this is meant to be an interesting meta reference to the fact the Sheikah Slate was meant to be a companion in Breath of the Wild, as an AI sort of character even more emotionless than Fi, but the idea of a companion at all was scrapped further on in development.
But it does help to disappoint people who wanted a companion in Tears
30+ minute Raz video, hell yeah
Hey it's Metallic fruit!
@@DragonHornet famous dark souls deviant!
Look, it's the canned pineapple that dumpster dive, what are you doing here?
Oh, you're here, guess I'm watching your Old FromSoft Games playlist agaIn lol
Well if it isn't the ferrous fruit
Fun Fact: Link's quest logs were written in first-person in the japanese version of BOTW
I wish we had gotten that in our translation. It really emphasizes that he was a more self-reliant link
(edit: Replies have informed me that the Japanese version doesn't actually use any personal pronouns at all, and in English would be comparable to a passive tone; I guess I was misinformed. If you want more details I suggest reading the reply in this comment thread by Kirian Guiller)
I think it’s better that link doesn’t have a voice because link is supposed to be an avatar character, he’s what YOU want him to be.
@@Evan-tp7ur that's probably why they did it, but it's stupid. Link is a character, the idea that video game protagonists shouldn't be characters is fucking obnoxious, and games from other languages shouldn't be mistranslated to continue this stupid trend.
@@Evan-tp7ur I don't think Link can quite function as an avatar character like he used to. He has too much history, both in-universe and out of it. It's fine in pokemon for the player character to be a blank slate, because it's a new character each generation who's only history is "some random kid". "Some random kid" could be anyone, but the player character of a Legend of Zelda game is "Link", a specific individual, emphasized by the fact that BotW no longer allows the player to change Link's name, further cementing him as his own character. By now, the player expects Link to be the hero of Hyrule (or whatever land the game takes place in), because regardless of whether it's a different iteration of Link, he's always been a hero that helps others. Also, after many games, it's pretty firmly established that he's meant to embody courage, and it's hard to show that if he doesn't have a personality that exemplifies this.
@@cheyenneoliver5184 yeah although I agree botw doesn’t let you change his name, you can customize every aspect of his appearance/weapon choice/how you want progress and explore. The developers literally said link does not talk because they want the player to feel like they are him. Also, botw takes place in the middle of a storyline, he’s already a fully established knight of hyrule. In every Zelda game link is literally a “regular guy” from humble beginnings, the notoriety of the series doesn’t matter because it’s literally a new character every game. Link isn’t a blank state, but his actions and decision are directly controlled by you the player. And I think that goes towards the theme of Zelda that anyone can be a hero it just takes some courage.
Personally, I think it works better if Link is more of an avatar in BOTW given how set the game is on player freedom since it allows the player to better project their own feelings onto stuff.
For example, if you have quest logs where Link writes in first person, you kinda need to then have Link give thoughts on it which reduce the player's ability to project onto it. Like, if Link writes "I have to go fight this Linel to help an old man", it communicates the idea that Link isn't really afraid of Linels since he just casually writes he has to go fight them like it's no big deal. At least if it's phrased currently, it doesn't allow Link's own emotions to influence it.
Am I only person that wants a game where we get Navi back? I mean in Majora's mask Link was on his way to find her, and i think her sudden leave kinda felt sad.
Maybe i'm just being pessimist but maybe she's dead? I don't know if fairies canonically die of age, even if it's centuries. We know that they can get cold, from Majora's Mask.
@@hugosilva9502 she likely disappeared after fulfilling her purpose like the health fairies n shit
@@rwandanman1218 Maybe after fulfilling her duty, she became a great fairy somewhere?
@@ARUCARDFTEPES maybe but I doubt it if link was looking for her this long
@@rwandanman1218 How long do you mean? Each iteration is a different Link except the few direct sequels, if you assume MM was the same guy as it implies, he would have been searching only for the time between games. Also, since Zelda sends him back to his original time, only without the necessity of him becoming the Hero of Time, he may have never even known Navi, since she was only assigned to him for this specific quest.
When you’re the only character to journey with Link across multiple incarnations, yet you don’t get mentioned once in a 32 minute video about Zelda companions: “Neigh that translates to “Years of horseback training wasted!””
Epona is bareley a character she doesn't really have a personality she is just a horse a cute horse mind you but she doesn't really add much in terms of banter or character
@@JetowTone She literally horses the whole time. Don't be ignorant about her horsing. She was VERY exists.
Too much horsing around
2d link: I've never met this mare before
Wait, you talking about Tingle?
I'm still really disappointed by missed potential with Fi. This is the SPIRIT of the MASTERSWORD, the blade of evil's bane! How great would it have been if she had started out as cold and analytical but over the course of her journey she slowly stopped being an emotionless automaton and gained a sense of justice and desire to protect the weak and defeat evil? Really show why those who use dark powers cannot wield her and why she's the one blade that can cut through the darkness. Such a missed opportunity.
I saw humanity at the end, showing gratitude towards Link... But it's not over, maybe BotW 2 will have Fi again, the Master Sword looks like talking to Link in some parts of BotW and the small vídeo that shows the destroyed Master Sword also looks like Link hearing something from the blade
No not Fi again TwT she’s annoying tbh and her design just bugs me honestly I’d prefer Navi
@@artyraindrop2942 She has been with at least 3 Links after SS Link, i'm sure she will be better if she come back, she surelly understand Hylians and emotions more than her first version in SS, more like a Spirit and less like a robot.
Don’t think u paid attention to the video Raz addresses that
I wouldn't say totally missed, but definitely executed poorly. While doing my first playthrough, i happened to complete most side quests and realized after the facts that you can see glimpses of her evolving more and more human as you progress through them. Like with the handler or the love letter where she clearly shows that she understands the complexity of human relationships and advises you accordingly. Even if it's just purely logical and cold dialogues, that's a step forward to me. You can also see that when trying to scan inhabitants of Skyloft with her, she makes puns or just some silly comments just for fun. But then again, you can't expect the player to engage with all of that in all cases (especially when the side quests system is hidden so well).
It's the same problem as BOTW where all the story is optionnal so you can't really make it a focus of the game. Except in SS we at least have other good character arcs like Groose and Impa, so I give it a pass for that reason. On the other hand, most characters in BOTW are static ones just like Link. Only Zelda evolves throughout the memories but you need to get them in the right order to appreciate her arc so it's poorly executed as well :-/
I feel like there's an aspect of Fi that many players forget because they're gamers already, let's not forget that the Wii was one of the most broadly marketed consoles of all time. Grandparents were playing videogames for their first time on that console. The console had a huge number of first time gamers playing; people who not only haven't played games but haven't even held a controller in their hands before. And not only that but these people were already adults. Teaching a kid something new is one thing but teaching someone in their 50s or 60s potentially with an early Alzheimer's condition is very hard by comparison. Fi was necessary because the console had a huge number of first time players who needed the help. Like Raz said in the video, she was a step back towards Navi but not without reason. I think she was ultimately a very successful companion in this respect, lending a tutorial to those who saw how much fun their kids and grandkids were having and wanted to have some fun on their own.
Definitely a fair look at it. I would argue that their implementation was an overcorrection, BUT it is a very good point that in the same way Navi was teaching people how to navigate a 3D world, Fi was teaching an audience who weren't primarily gaming veterans. The issue with that though is it alienated many of those who were. Wish I would have explored this idea in the video though as it is a really intriguing thought.
While this is true most hardened gamers seem to struggle with remembering they're not the exclusive audience for things. Seee also: People complaining Pokemon and Kirby are "too easy" or how they want a "more mature Zelda" (I always wanna scream "bruh just play dark souls already" lol)
@@razbuten Follow up video with interviews from people with similar experiences to look forward to?
Don't forget that Skyward Sword is the only game in the series where you start with freaking 6 hearts! I'm pretty sure that's because Nintendo wanted to give players a handicap for how different/new the motion controls were for the Wii Motion additions
Yeah but old people werent playing games like zelda they were playing stupid stuff like wii tennis
Now that TOTK has released I hope we get a sequel on how it handled companions. The 4 major characters that assist in dungeons and in the overworld afterwards; Sidon, Riju, Tulin, and Yunobo; all have their own independent character arcs that are explored, aid Link in Unique ways, and are a physical presence like Ghost Zelda as opposed to something that can be turned into a system like Navi. While the fact that splitting the focus among 4 different side characters means that they don’t have too much screen time as characters and aren’t allowed to be fully fleshed out in this game alone; all of the main 4 were in BOTW and had characterization there that was expanded on here. What makes them work especially well in TOTK is that they’re technically optional. If you were suicidal enough and did some shenanigans you could probably face Ganondorf in 30 minutes with 3 hearts and a dream; but you can CHOOSE to interact with them, and for a game that’s all about choice that is HUGE.
Not to mention... You just feel not as alone as in BotW anymore since you can summon them for help whenever you want. Sure, it's not really them and just their avatars but it does wonders in making you feel like you aren't as alone as you were in BotW. Hyrule is finally healing, Link is officially recognized and gets the praise and respect he earned and he never has to feel alone in this world again. I think that's beautiful from where he came from in BotW.
After playing Totk for a month, I hate the sages. They get in the way and are very boring. I much prefer the single companion Zelda games used to have.
@@dpackerman4203 if they bother you, you can turn them off by revoking them ;) that's what I do, when i want a harder challenge as I'm fighting enemies, or when they become too much of a crowd in small confined places
I went down with only Sidon, no master sword and a few hearts; I recommend it, it makes the final stretch a lot more exciting as you have to (spoilers)
Fight all the area bosses back to back except the one your companion already fought, which left me with the army followed by 4? 5? bosses and then all the stages of Ganondorf with basically no breaks.
Sadly Zelda shows up and gives you the sword regardless, I think she would have been livid if she found out Link and Sidon just went "bro we got this" and beat Ganondorf and his army with no magic weapons, blessings or anything else.
Sidon did end up limp at a side of the arena, not sure if he died since the cutscene at the end focused just on Link. But I guess worst case scenario, he gets a Zora cult even bigger than Mipha for being so crazy and strong that he succeeded in 2-manning the demon king and his army despite dying. Fish Jesus kind of deal.
@@dpackerman4203yeah but considering you can easily turn them off how do you have hate for them when they’re 100% optional. Apart from their specific dungeons and a few other parts. Personally I love em because I’m getting at the point where whole packs of silver enemies spawn. I simply can not dodge that many attacks at once. They’re a blessing for taking some of that heat of you. Makes me wonder if Nintendo made some of the enemies more numerous and difficult with the assumption you have sages to help. The game feels easier overall but pretty sure that’s because link is stronger and not the enemies being weaker
Ezlo is still my favorite, such a fun character who actively helps link throughout his journey without being annoying or interrupting
Still best parachute in Hyrule.
@@peatraldammit now I want an Ezlo paraglider skin in BotW/TotK.
I was hoping to find another person who enjoyed him
I still hope we will eventually see the return of the Minish in a Zelda game again. Maybe the next 3D Zelda? One can hope...
@@Jakokokoroko imagine a minish village in something like totk, it would be really cool
I love companion characters. Given Link's role as a silent protagonist they function as a means of showing an in-universe reaction to the events of the story. I also generally find the "they're so annoying" bit to be overblown.
Yeah I love having them there, it's like having a friend. Link knowing he's not alone helps with the whole courage thing. You always feel stronger with someone else I say it's something that makes him different than Ganon.
I've noticed a lot of "they're so annoying" comes from repeat playthroughs
Agree 100%
I want to see something in BOTW2 or later where they react to stuff you’ve done in some way. Like you kill a red bokoblin with an ancient arrow and they comment on it being a bit overkill or something.
The only Zelda game I've ever played was Spirit Tracks, so I can't comment about the other ones, but Zelda turning into a ghost that only I can see was really cool and made me feel special in that world. It gave the story meaning even before I was aware of the Demon Train and all that other high-stakes stuff that was going on.
Personally, Linebeck is my favourite companion in the series. He's very expressive and has quite a subversive personality compared to the typically headstrong and confident companions. I love how he's something of a foil to Link, a selfish, cowardly adult who lets a selfless, courageous child fight his battles for him. He and Ciela have an interesting dynamic too, and by the end I love that despite clearly being scared, he attempts to stop Bellum to save Link. It gives making him the final boss all the more emotional weight too.
As for whether or not the series should remove companions, I'm onboard with a mix of companion games and companionless games. The concept is certainly a fun one, but they aren't necessary for every game.
Linebeck and Midna are top tier for sure
Linebeck is the best
As a lover of both FlapJack and Wind Waker (along with its sequels), I am pretty partial to Linebeck and i wish we got to have more of him 🥺
There's a characterization I've always applied to Linebeck, one I'm surprised nobody else seems to have made. Mainly....that he has some Han Solo parallels. I mean, both are selfish and greedy at the start. Only difference is that Linebeck's a coward. Link is an obvious Luke.
Everyone loves crime uncle!!
Honestly I miss having a companion, I think the problem is the interruptions. In Tears Of The Kingdom a certain ghost shows up in certain spots. They reminisce about their life and lament the state of things.
I really hoped that they would keep doing so.
I loved spotting their ghostly visage and would make a bee line for them.
Even if what they told me wasn't important to what I was doing. Shame they didn't stick around
While literally every mechanical point you make about Fi is true, I cried when she 'died'. The music in that scene is unbelievably emotional.
If it makes you feel any better, she seems alive in TotK. Her sound effect plays in a couple cutscenes.
Fi is literally a cancer afflicting my Master Sword. I demand that it be removed in a patch asap! 😒
@@Jolis_Parsec No, she just IS the master sword
I never saw the King of Red Lions as a companion in Wind Waker, although I suppose technically he is. He really struck me more as a side character that moved the story along much like Tetra was. I like that when you’re on land he doesn’t really guide you at all :)
I'd argue there are 3 types of companions in LoZ. Trees, boats, and fairies.
Trees include the Great Waifu Tree from Oracle, but also Hilda from Link between Worlds. They are rooted in place and communicate telepathically, just enough to stop you getting lost.
Boats include the King, (I guess Linebeck too? I didn't play the DS games) and everyone else that stay behind when things get hairy. They are actively involved in the story the whole way, giving them a lot of character development opportunities.
Fairies are the most common type. They stay by links side the whole time. Midna is obviously the gold standard, but I'd like to draw attention to Tatl (Majora's) and Ezlo (Minish) as 'good enough' companions; important enough that you never doubt why they're there, but unobtrusive enough that you don't resent them.
For BotW 2, I could see Zelda working really well as a "Boat" archetype.
I did feel him like a guide tbh. You do take a good portion of the game on the open seas and it's nice having him around to sail plus I liked his design. It was cool boat ^^ but that's what i liked about the small island parts. You were left alone to your own devices finding clues to shoot the tornado frog and getting warped into the volcano look island for the queen of fairies. It was sad seeing the boat being emotionless
King of Red Lions is basically just your dad having a smoke and reading the paper in the car while you're at band practice.
When a boat touches the Triforce and not you
@@haraberu I could also see Zelda in BotW2 to work similar to her in spirit tracks. Where she follows but doesn't just advise but also helps. Maybe like how Twilight Princess Zelda helps with the final Ganon fight. Also adding some new puzzles with having 2 characters throughout the game instead of just 1 adds new puzzles that are hopefully interesting if they implement it correctly
As a teenager, first playing OoT, I didn't mind Navi
When I play it now, she's a little annoying because she breaks one golden rule of video games, and forces the player into dialogue with her.
Also, I never thought about it - but in phantom hourglass, isn't link technically your companion because the cursor is the fairy? 🤔
That’s definitely one of the things I liked about Phantom Hourglass. Link is the companion.
@@thesquishedelf1301 Legend of Zelda: Ciela's Quest or something
The DS games slapped unnecessarily
And don't forget ciela and other faries also uses hammer.
I felt the same about Navi, when I was a kid. I was really happy, that she would help me, when I was lost. Games like Links Awakening were difficult for me, because there were very few helping mechanics, when I didn't know, where to go.
I have always loved Phantom Hourglass, and this video helped me explain why, though not through the actual message of the video. It just got me thinking about it.
I love Phantom Hourglass because it's not about Link, or Hyrule, or any of that. It's about Linebeck, Oshus, and most importantly, Ciela. This world needed a hero, but it didn't necessarily need Link. Unlike every other Zelda game, which requires the hero in green, it just needed a player. What it needed, however, was Ciela. (Ok, it needs every spirit, but Ciela is the best and I will die on that incredibly short hill.) It needed someone who could go out and defeat Bellum. Problem is, Bellum is basically if Ganon decided that human souls were a better power source than Goddess Doritos. He literally just starts eating a god, and he almost succeeded. What ends up defeating Bellum is, yes, Link, but it's primarily Ciela. Ciela, the literal embodiment of Courage. Ciela, a spirit with power over time. One could make the argument that Linebeck stood up with Link's sword to fight Bellum because he came to respect Link, but I think that's only half the story. He came to respect Link, and learned Courage through Ciela.
Am I just batshit insane? Maybe. Is my explanation flawed? Absolutely. My english papers from High School would prove that point. It's just a thought I had.
Lineback, like Phantom Hourglass, was honestly very underrated. He had a pretty solid character arc, was a good foil for Ciela and without him, the story literally couldn’t progress.
Having a character to accompany you with your journey? Hell yeah. Having a glorified tutorial follow you around? Maybe not needed anymore.
id actually like navi back since i found her cute as a kid, just not as a guide. more just as company
@@sinzones3909 I love the idea, even if she comes back as a guide. The only problem is that bringing back Navi kinda dismisses the point of Majora's Mask in a way?
Really it doesn't really dismiss the concept of Majora's mask because the Lincoln our breath of the wild and the hero of time make a the blank from Ocarina of Time they are two separate people in incarnations like they are similar people they're just two different entities from two different time periods for example hero x link is the hero shade so Ocarina of Time link did die at some point in Majora's mask in fact that's actually Cannon to the lore so she just be friends with a different link
@@hugosilva9502 Majora's mask dismissed Majora's mask by having no one remember links deeds for a second time
Dude I want another companion as good as Midna or spirit Zelda. I severely doubt a companion will be in BotW 2, but hopefully in the future a really well-designed and likable companion will come back to the franchise.
I agree with this dude 100%
I want this two hell if I could I would mod a companion into the new Zelda game
Honestly Purah could've made a good companion for BOTW. Since Nintendo already went all in with the iPad design, she could easily have been radioing you or monitoring you from the other side using the slate. She also already has a solid backstory and a good connection to the ancient technology setting, being a researcher.
And now in TOTK everyone wants her as their companion!
The whole purah situation makes me uncomfortable as hell. Part of me thinks they made her an adult in this game for reasons I probably don’t have to explain. They were already well aware of the fact that you can look up any mundane female Zelda character and get 3/4 rules 34’s. So why the hell would they put an adult woman in the body of a 5 year old
@@monhi64different culture stuff, its considered funny in Japan.
@@monhi64the detailing in her design, yes. They knew what they were doing. But it makes total sense for someone who made age changing technology, who accidentally made herself a kid, would tweak it so she's an adult again.
Man, even though I agree with the whole lack of character arc and meaningful impact of Navi, it just made me somewhat sad and like her more because of one thing: she left Link. We see Link make friends and despite parting ways at the end of each story, they have bonded and in a sense they’ll always be together. Navi does not. She had a mission, she fulfilled it and she just move on because she’s not needed anymore, as if she has her own life without involving Link. It’s a cold, distant thought yet strangely charming and real.
To be fair, so do the rest of the companions (except Spirit Tracks Zelda).
It’s theorized that Navi didn’t make it, hence why Link’s search for her ends fruitless.
I think we just don't have enough case studies of modern Zelda games without companions to properly answer that question. I'd say most Zelda games don't suffer or benefit from a companion, it's just a tradition. In Breath of the Wild's case, Link being alone in a sense is integral to the atmosphere and it works because of the non-linear structure as well as a lack of story.
Then again, classic-style Zelda's like A Link Between Worlds only ever needed NPC's to guide Link along, but with more grandiose stories featuring bigger worlds like Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, companions are there to not only serve but influence the story, leading to some of the most memorable and heartfelt moments of the series. They're companions for a reason; they're not tools like Navi or dollar-store Cortana like Fi, they're as integral to the plot and themes as the Triforce-users themselves.
Arguably, ALBW has A LOT of moments where you're kinda "where the fuck do I have to go", so a companion would've been cool maybe ? Also it has kind of a BOTW feel to it because of the "open" world and the many choices as to which dungeon to do first and which object to get etc...
Companions are more annoying once you're familiar with the game. Like a 2nd play through. But I don't mind them too much. I think they add a lot. I loved the moment in Ocarina of Time when Navi was able to help you fight Ganon after Ganondorf used some kind of dark magic to keep her away from the 1st fight
God, I wish we could get a full-on Final Fantasy 7 Remake-style remake of Ocarina of Time someday. I've always had a soft spot for the kind of characters I'd imagine Link and Navi to be, and I'd love to see a reimagined, fleshed-out dynamic between them, where Link is at first a shy, shaky kid from growing up an outcast for not having a fairy, latching onto Navi immediately as a friend and mother figure, and Navi starts off as doubting the meek young Link as a hero and maybe even annoyed and frustrated with needing to support him. Having her functioning as his "mouthpiece" when he needs to communicate with people could be really interesting, too
Same man, same.
We absolutely need it, to remind the new Botw fans why Zelda was so great in the first place
One thing I liked about Midna was that when you needed a hint where to go, she doesn’t tell you directly. For example, when you’re trying to find the mirror for the first time and ask for a hint, she says something like: “I honestly don’t know where the mirror is. Maybe try asking around or something?” And this leads you to think about the Hyrule Resistance members, who you need to help you.
I don’t want companion characters to go away, but they do need to change. One: they only gave you hints if you asked for them two: when they speak, it should be in real time and not pause the game, and three: they should be made deeper characters who not only give you lore bits, but play into the lore as well. I guess what I’m saying is: they need to be treated like Atreus in GOW😂
yup, the classic fairies had so much potential, the problem is that they only serve as info dumps in the game, unlike Midna who has her own objective and powers, the hat/Laszlo and the boat/king were good too
Every conversation in every Zelda game pauses the game. You fool.
@@devforfun5618 actually the wind waker approach is pretty good considering the companion isn't actually inseparable from your character but still plays a role in the story
@@simonrockstream
Yeah, id like to see full on voice acting in the next Zelda game (not just for cutscenes). That would allow characters/companions to speak to you while you’re playing and the game world wouldn’t have to pause. Imagine a well crafted, and well voice acted companion like Midna? That’d be INCREDIBLE!
Or BD-1 in Jedi: Fallen Order, a helper, not someone that can directly engage in combat, but someone that can help you out in puzzles(if requested), store healing items(depending on how the game is designed), and even just have conversations with the main character(one sided, lol).
I wish Breath of the Wild had a playable epilogue on which Link and Zelda can explore the world together after achieving peace.
I mean link does have a campion in Kass
@@dollphunh2097 "companion." Also Kass, the Descendants, Impa, and the spirits all kinda fill that role, but only temporarily, and Kass is only there for musical exposition and some obscure sidequests
@@dollphunh2097 He is barely a "companion"...
Zelda will absolutely have more of an active role in the sequel.
@@NoiseDay It seems otherwise tbh
This is a weird recommendation but I remember Nico B's Let's play of breath of the wild where after he Met the king ghost he started pretending link absorbed the ghost and had the king as a voice in links head essentially giving him a companion who constantly annoyed him and when he got the other ghosts they Joined until he had like 5 voices in his head all arguing with him it was hilarious. Honestly that just tells me the solution to companions interrupting gameplay is just have voiceovers that don't interrupt gameplay.
Ayyy, NicoB fan
Also yeah if you made it sorta like Dragon Age or Dark Souls / Elden Ring where companions/characters talk with captions but without a game pausing text box you’d probably solve a lot of the issues
This has in fact returned in his Tears of the Kingdom and honestly makes me wish Rauru stuck around all game as the companion. While the old man would probably not be compelling enough to stick around in any context other than a goofy Let's Play joke, Rauru absolutely could have stuck around given that he is literally your arm.
Yeah, the entire time Raz was describing how he felt companions could've worked in BotW, I was thinking "what if the Champion powers were accompanied by the spirits of the champions who gave them to you? Wait, that's literally NicoB's council of champions gimmick, isn't it?"
Linebeck and Ghost-Zelda are definitely my favorite companions, Tatl coming in at third, but Fi is really endearing because I thought of her like a Phone app like Siri, Cortana, or whatever the hell; She's trying her hardest in her own way, it might get annoying but it's what she was made to do, I'm looking forward to BoTW2 specifically because of the little teaser at the end of the Master Trials.
Aside from that, I think BoTW did implement companions well.
You get one leading up to the dungeon, and afterwards, the spirit of a friend assist you to a degree; I genuinely wish they commented on combat when you were fighting against Calamity Ganon, but hearing Revali, Urbosa, Daruk and Mipha cheering me on during a fight, despite the small interactions made me want to win more than a lot of circumstances have in games before, usually depending on the Genre I'm worried about surviving for different reasons, Character Action games make me want to succeed because I KNOW the characters are badasses and wouldn't get ragdolled in a fight, Skyward Sword made me want to survive every encounter because Skyward Sword Link, despite being shown to be a sleepy head of the highest degree, is the only Link who struggles to get back up before finally succumbing to his wounds.
Breath of the Wild Link makes me feel the same type of way, but because he DOESN'T have a Low HP animation like the others, he just flashes red to indicate he has low Health, while the others would be slouching, struggling to breathe and so on, He just kind of keeps on trucking, it's kind of heartbreaking to die in the game for me just because you don't see any of his personality or character when he does he down, he's just down- So when I'm fighting these Blights that took out the other Champions, and they're worrying about his health, and trying to give him advice, It feels great.
It's only for small segments sure, but BoTW's limited companions, do feel good to have around, just like how the others all serve a purpose, Link definitely wouldn't have reached any of the Divine Beast without their help, at least in universe considering glitches let you get damn close; But the main point of this was that I feel like BoTW definitely did those segments right, I would've personally preferred the segments before the dungeons to be more hands on, to let us get to know the Champions 'Descendants' better, If they had been done kind of like Sidon and Yunobo, things would've been fine, Riju makes sense in context, but it also would've been cool to have to move through a sandstorm with her to infiltrate the Yiga base, I think Teba is definitely the worst offender though, the buildup leading into Medoh is hardly there, and it's pretty noticeable.
Having to create slight railroads to the areas under the hopes the player enters there and not from another place would probably hurt the experience, but if they had left the character at a spot that would've been the most 'easy' to enter from, it definitely would've felt more organic.
Navi felt bland, sure, but in the context of that being her job/duty, and her doing everything she could, when she could to help Link, she did a fine job.
Tatl might've been an ass to Link to start, but going through the first loop has them running around Clock Town together for 72 hours, before going back in time and doing it again, so even if it takes the player one or two days to actually clear Woodfall, they've still been together for a minimum of 78 hours at that point, and she's probably had more than enough time to want to apologize after finding out that her Friend is trying to slam dunk a moon into the Earth, it's a minor thing, but Tatl actually has another dialogue set if you go to fight Majora again, and she's much more confident that time, It's a small thing, but heartwarming to see that she knows Link can do it.
The King of Red Lions is an interesting case, but I definitely cried at the end of Wind Waker thanks to him, It's a lot of simple things, but seeing him in Boat form always animated and alive, and then just the small raft at the end of the game was actually pretty depressing, even more so because that's the last time he appears unless you count the Link-Like in the North-West(?) quadrant of the Sea in Phantom Hourglass, so there's never much indication of what happened, was it retired and kept as a memento, or did it give out after wear and tear?
Midna makes me feel conflicted, because she's a fine character, but also I feel like she goes from outwardly highly manipulative and trying to take advantage of Link, to at least seeming reasonable by the end of the First Dungeon since we know what the Fused Shadows can do to things, so even though she's definitely in it for self gain, seeing those moments of reflection after a Boss before you guys speed off towards the next area definitely feels less antagonistic than she might've been set up to appear, Twilight Princess doesn't rank very high at all for me, but Midna definitely perks up as a character during the second half for me, and it's not something you'll be seeing very often, but it's kind of jarring how nonchalant she is about Link dying in Wolf Form, which is better than previous companions at this point because she actually reacts, but the fact she just kind of Shrugs feels off to me, some people might've found Zelda shrieking or gasping when Link got hurt in OoT happened, but it made her feel like she actually cared, I can understand Midna shrugging when Link sinks into quicksand or something, she can just warp him out at that point, but maaaaan.
Ciela is a great deal of fun, her interactions with Linebeck feel really organic, even better after you know she's the spirit of courage and he's cowardly, it makes sense even indirectly why they might be at odds, and it makes me wish that PH would get a remake, even though it doesn't really need it.
Phantom-Zelda is the best, up for debate only for the sole fact respecting others opinions is important, but between her being concerned for Links safety if something goes wrong on the Train, or yelling for him to run as a Phantom, the definite selling point for me is her coming to help Link deal the final blow to Malledeus(?) personally. Love Chancellor Cole tho', quirky lil fellow.
Fi didn't feel annoying to me because she was basically an AI made to help the Hero and guide him, I would've rather had some of her dialogue appear on screen as text while you could still act, but she was good IMO, It might've been hand-holdy, but at least contextually and within the Story it makes sense, if it was a case like with some games where, characters will repeat what they need to do to themselves constantly, even if they are alone, It'd have definitely been grating; I personally find it easier to remember I have to do something If I say it out loud to myself, since it's easier for me to remember I said something, than it is to remember that I've thought something before, but Fi essentially functioning like a GPS Cortana that goes as far as to provide Link with combat data based off of previous encounters makes me more appreciative of her because she's doing what she was designed to do (A bit too well for some people), well.
If BoTW does end up featuring a Companion, I'd certainly prefer for it to be the disembodied voice of the Link from ages ago, even just providing input on how you're holding up in a fight, or commenting on the enemies and what they do would be enough for me- Urbosa noting Thunderblight is Fast is a good example, including it as something that could be turned off similar to Pro-mode disabling most of your normal HUD in BoTW would work fine, or at least I think so. Either way, 10/10 Video, thanks for getting me to think enough to write a Clickbait articles length of text.
Linebeck is actually tied with Midna for me because of his connection to the story and his own character arc throughout the story. His final wish hit just was hard as Midna's farewell for me
Same. I smiled and let out a tear when I saw Linebeck in the last scene before credits
I guess they do have similar character arcs.
The only time Link has had anything close to a character arc is Skyward Sword. In the first couple hours he's characterized as someone who is kind hearted but very lazy and has his head in the clouds, he just has a lot of raw natural talent. As soon as Zelda gets taken he's upset and then gains the means to chase after her and become the courageous hero. Aaaand then that's it
He had a bit of one in Hyrule Warriors. He's recognized as the hero early on, and from then on he basically blitzes all of the dark forces effortlessly story-wise, getting even stronger when he receives the Master Sword and believes himself invincible. Meanwhile everyone is always calling him the 'chosen hero' and how great he is. He eventually becomes arrogant and conceited until he screws up and gets some sense smacked into him.
Its still not a huge character arc or anything but its probably the biggest he's ever gotten.
@@mega20able That's a very good point, I had forgotten about that
Skyward Sword is also the most expressive Link too when it comes to facial expression. Well, of the non-Toon Links at least
Is like Farm boy Link form Twilight and brooother Link from Wind Waker don't exist
Harry Potter and the schooll of knights in the skyward does anything for me except Ghirahim and Groose
@@luichinplaystation610 Well they don't really have character arcs. The most WW Link has is he feels awkward wearing ceremonial clothes I guess? TP Link doesn't really have any development, lot's of other people's character development happens around him and because of him, but whenever something happens to him like when he turns into a wolf, he just gets on with it immediately. In the context of character arcs specifically, SS Link is the best
I think the character development of Tatl which is only really shown by how sarcastic her enemy descriptions are for early foes is a subtle way to do story telling it's all completely optional dialogue yet it is compelling and feels organic.
This video made me think again how most of the players say BotW feels lonely, yet I never got that feeling. For me, the Zelda that invokes loneliness the most is actually Twilight Princess, even though, and maybe partly *because* of Midna.
For me, BotW feels calm and serene, save for the guardian encounters. The bad things that happened happened so far in the past, that the game loses the sense of urgency, like things have waited for 100 years, they can wait a bit longer. Also, because Link has amnesia and, frankly, is the blankest slate of 3D Links, it feels like he has no personal connection to whatever is happening, even though he very much does, it just doesn't *show*, really.
In contrast, Twilight Princess's problems are happening here and now, and Link has personal agenda of trying to save his friends and world. Yes, you have constant companion in Midna, but as Razbuten said, she doesn't care about Hyrule and it's people, or Link, at first. It really does feel everything rests on Link's shoulders alone, at least for a good while. Also, a lot of this is certainly affected by my experience of loneliness, and that it's at it's worst when you are not alone, but surrounded by people who don't understand, support, or like you.
(Disclaimer: this is not critique on Midna, she is easily my favourite Zelda companion and I love her a lot. Or BotW, I like the game a lot too.)
BoTW Link is the 100 years sleeping Hero
Calm and serene 100 years after the Ganon hacking flex that made the good guys lose
Yeah, I never felt lonely in BotW, but there are areas like the first visit to Zelda or the Snowpeaks where you just feel isolated. Most of my BotW gameplay that had non-story thought devoted to it was, "When do I get my green had and tunic!?" I bought the 8-bit Amiibo just to get the OG outfit and even that didn't give me the Magical Sword.
I think the big difference is that the Twilight Princess _story_ is lonely but the BotW _mechanics_ are lonely. The lonely areas in TP are atmospheric, creepy, and bound directly to the experiences of the characters. The lonely points in BotW tend to be those moments where you just conquered a side quest and have to open your journal to decide what's next: liminal spaces between goals. TP is a haunted house where BotW is a solo road trip.
The loneliness of BOTW hits harder the first time you play it. It introduces a post-apocalyptic wasteland early on and there's only one other person on the Great Plateau who turns out to be a ghost and leaves. The first time I ran into a roaming NPC fresh off the Plateau I realized just how lonely I'd been not knowing for sure if there were any other living people in the greater world. As the player progresses there are seldom signs pointing to population centers, so you never know when or if there's going to be one down the road. But while Link continues to have few narrative connections to NPCs, as the player becomes more familiar with the world, towns and roaming travelers the sense of being alone diminishes. On repeat playthroughs the loneliness is replaced by comfortable familiarity and quiet contemplation.
Meanwhile, TP does the opposite. As you touched on, it shows an entire cast of Link's friends, his hometown, even his job before seperating you from them. There are multiple times where Link can see them but they can't see him. Between the Twilight realm curses and the general populace being afraid of Link's wolf form this leaves him constantly surrounded by people he can't talk to, alone in a crowd.
The player experiences this every time they play it, which makes TP's loneliness more persistent than BOTW's.
Twilight Princess feels incredibly lonely when in the twilight parts of hyrule, as all the people are terrified shades of themselves who can't see you; but likewise, BOTW feels lonely in all the places you're familiar with that are now abandoned. Lon-Lon, Castle Town, the Temple of Time... seeing those places abandoned like, hurt.
Might be my adhd, but i usually just tuned out the companion characters whenever they did something that everybody considers “annoying”. That being said, i’m very fond of all of them including fi
Probably is.
Appreciate the Linebeck coverage. Dude gets too little love. It's a good, albeit simple arc!
My thoughts exactly! Honestly wish we could get more of him, but it'd likely mean a remake of Phantom Hourglass or a game that takes place between the end of that game and his passing in Spirit Tracks, both of which I don't see happening anytime soon if at all :(
I never play the game but I read the manga, he's likable
linebeck was great because he was a traveling companion. ST zelda also worked when she was in tower of spirits but outside she had the trapping of the typical companion but less intrusive compared to navi fi or ezlo if i remember correctly.
I think it mostly has to do with the fact that Phantom Hourglass is one of the more obscure titles in the series. (Which is ironic, because I believe it’s also one of the best-selling.) But yeah, Linebeck was really great for what he was.
@@midnalazuli793 one thing i did not like about linebeck was trollene, one of the most irritating trolls in the series.
Back almost a year later The companions in Tears of the Kingdom are definitely a welcome one. It's a good mix between they are there but they're also not there.
I love all the companions, especially Navi and Tatl. A huge part of what makes OOT and MM so sticky in my brain is their iconic and repeating sounds. Being able to identify Navi by her voice lines is a testament to how important sound design is to those games.
I think my favorite type of companion was one you haven't really mentioned: Actual party members like Medli and Makar in Wind Waker.
Personally this was my favorite implementation of companion characters and it would be very interesting to see a Zelda title with such party members accompanying Link for most of the duration of the game (of course you shouldn't be forced to carry them around for the whole game lol).
This! I loved Medli and Makar. And similarly Kafei in MM with that mini dungeon puzzle. Link having a second person to solve puzzles with opens a lot of new possibilities. Though I disagree with your point about having these characters long-term in your quest. I think having other characters as a temporary companion makes them all the more special feeling, because you know you have to leave them behind eventually.
That said, Links transformations in MM are actually kind of similar to having swappable party members. And since the masks sort have a piece of the persons soul/essence, he really isn't "alone" in a sense. Maybe swappable team mates could work well actually.
links time with medli is so sweet
I haven't played the game but isn't zelda in sprit tracks essentially this?
I think the new breath of the wild game coming out should have Zelda as a companion tbb
Absolutely! I felt like this was a great step forward after how all the characters felt in Majora's Mask. I feel like Twilight Princess tried to carry this further but it just seemed forced by that point.
Maybe the real companions are the friends we made along the way.
...actually, YES!
Woah hadn't thought of it that way
And in fact, one does make friends along the way in Breath of the Wild!
Maybe the real milk was the cheese we made along the way.
Maybe the real treasure was all the money we made along the way.
It's funny because while Navi has pretty very little impact on OoT's story, she's the entire impetus for Majora's Mask's story, since the whole thing starts with Link searching for her.
After ToTK I can safely say that Zelda is better with companions than without. The world just kinda felt lonely, even after getting those five spoilers they were kinda lifeless. Throughout the entire game I was alone and it weighed on me. It made me sad
I was really sad when Rauru didn't become our companion.
For me the most important aspect of a companion is, companionship. Obvious as that might sound, having someone to explore the world with makes it feel more alive and vibrant, and allows story beats to hit a lot harder by having a more fixed character than silent blank slate link.
BOTW was in a sense elevated by its lack of companion because it made the world feel lonelier, Link more isolated as he had to reclaim Hyrule. But I hope the next Zelda has some form of companion to explore the world with, or at least more characters that move throughout the world with you and create real bonds with Link.
Loneliness matches the ruins. Maybe zelda botw without companion sounds better after all.
Midna and Spirit tracks Zelda are my favorite companions in the series. I love their arcs and relationships with Link. They both have big roles in their stories and are overall the closest we have to a perfect companion. I hope they bring back companions into the zelda universe and do it right like these two.
You did Navi a disservice by cutting off the her line "this time, we fight together!" That shit really hit hard when I first played that game.
I've found Navi really helpful for my friends who didn't play video games as kids. Learning 3D games for the first time as an adult is hard, and Navi teaches so much about the language of gaming. She is definitely annoying for anyone who knows how to play, though XD
That's a constant problem with game design, and it's very evident when talking to game designers. The amount of tutorials needed for someone whithout a natural affinity for games or someone who is dumb/unattentive to understand basic mechanics baffles the regular player.
I saw this first hand when asking a friend why his small top-down shooter had so much tutorial content when all it had was move, shoot, grab and drop item, and swap between the two carried weapons, and he showed me a stream of a grown man (who had videogame experience since he made streams of indie games) failing to understand the mechanics yet not reading the tutorial on-screen text during the first level, instead fumbling around and dying quickly.
i would like to add detail on your bit about Link not having any characterization. with at least the breath of the wild link is clear that before his loss of memory he was kind-hearted and courageous however when he was told he was the hero it crushed him. in a way that affected his relationships with other characters to the point where while in the memories he never seems to smile while in the present even after getting his memories back even after all his loss he seems to feel free in a way. even with all the responsibility.
He’s also a big sleepyhead
Hm, I agree with you in the most aspects, though for me, the most important part of a characterization for Link comes from cutscenes. And since BotW Link doesn't show any character there, I never felt that compelled to him like to the Links of TP, SS or the Adult Timeline Toon Links. Which is a shame, after SS I expected them to skyrocket in cutscenes with the power of the Switch.
But the developers have proven in the past they are able to listen to gamers' complaints. So maybe in BotW2, we see more of Link's emotions shining through
@@elli_senfsaat He does show character in the cut scenes. What do you think the comment you're replying to is talking about?
@@mechanomics2649 I know what I am talking about. In which cutscene does BotW Link show his emotions - with his face front to the camera? When do we see him smile, laugh, show anger _in cutscenes_ ? His visage is the same old cold mask all cutscenes through. The few moments he looks a tiny bit determined, surprised or thoughtful doesn't make a whole characterization. Even in the very first cutscene of SS, Link shows more emotions and character with the tiny smile upon reading Zelda's letter
@@elli_senfsaat The most critical scene of BOTW for Link is him reuniting with Zelda at the end of the game. This is the moment where he can let his guard down and be his true self. This is where we see the true Link for the first time... and he just has that blank stare that you typically see in the other cutscenes. Like what? That's our reward for saving Zelda? Link having less expressions than the Pokémon Trainer from Sun and Moon? At least there, they were always smiling even when faced with danger and drama.
And what's worse, being the silent player avatar is no longer an excuse to be boring. My Monster Hunter Stories 2 avatar has some of the best expressions out there for any character despite being fully customizable and having no dialogue. They were adorable and makes me want to play MHS2 again just to see their reactions in action (for story and battle). Heck, I would play Wind Waker again just to see Link give off his comedic and adorable expressions on his journey. So much character for a silent protagonist.
BOTW Link only works when he has no memory and thus it makes sense for him to be a blank slate. But come near the end, where most of the memories have been recovered and we understand Link's backstory now, Link doesn't change at all. He never became his own character and without a proper characterization established in BOTW, Age of Calamity inevitably causes Link to fade into the background as Zelda takes center stage as the true protagonist. That lack of characterization is why I want to play as Zelda instead of Link in BOTW2. Zelda is far more interesting to play as than Link, and no amount of magical arms or new outfits or rusted Master Sword will change that.
Ghost Zelda was the best one. You actually get to control the companion and it’s Zelda. Someone you instantly care about since it’s the Legend of Zelda. There were multiple moments where the game really hyped you up for being a great duo. Not someone guiding you. And it looks like we’re getting another Zelda as a companion for botw2, maybe tied to the sheikah slate more
I think that inspiration can definitely be pulled from other games as well - I think about Bioshock Infinite and how well Elizabeth worked as a companion, the way she contributed to the mechanics worked so well and definitely contributed to the feeling of a bond with her.
I had zero problems with Midna being the companion. Mainly because she is a fantastic character
This reminded me a lot of the the discussion about flawed tutorials. It seems to be less about the companion and more about tutorials that have not been propoerly implemented.
In this case it is both a flowed implementation of a character and a flawed implementation of a tutorial.
When it comes to Fi. I was playing my first Zelda game after Minish cap, Skyward sword, and I was only 10 when that came SS came out. From that perspective of always at least having Ezlo around whenever i got lonely in a dungeon or got stuck, it was nice to once again have an anchor I could rely on to ask questions as Fi has several dialogue options and info dumps if you get stuck. I actually really enjoyed her growth throughout the game. Yes she was still somewhat robotic at the end of the game, but there was just this everso slight drop of humanity in that goodbye, and it sent 10 year old me into sobbing territory, just as Ezlo having to leave at the end of minish cap did. I like the companions, and I think BotW felt almost too lonely at times, but at least then I could just go to a town and do some shopping etc. I already feel lonely enough in my life, so to be honest, BotW's feeling of loneliness was not refreshing in the slightest, it was the absolute opposite for me. If Fi ever leaves the sword again, I hope to see some real soul after spending tens of thousands of years through multiple different wielders (possibly even a bit of forgetfulness and loss of certain memories? seeing as the sword apparently has been waning over time in BotW. We really should give her a recharge soon lol)
btw can we talk about how Farore constantly wants to flood the kingdom?
This is a super well thought out, well executed video with some really cool points. Its clear that you’re a huge fan of the series and have an amazing love for it. I really appreciate your perspective on how past titles have lead to this as well as when you said “if the next game is breath of the wild but more, i dont know if it will be as rememberable as previous titles.” 🤯
Even as a person who has only played breath of the wild that quote hit hard.
As a person who only played breath of the wild i felt that loneliness vibe you mentioned until i started saving the towns from their divine beasts and getting to know the people. The way that i felt was that my companions were the community i met along the way. The actual land of hyrule itself on the back of my horse.
I think that the only way tears of the kingdom will be cemented in memory is if it becomes part of a trilogy.
I honestly wonder if the issue with Navi's lines is really that they are "demanding", or just that they are memeable?
As companions go, she's actually one of the less obtrusive, yet her voice lines make her one of the easiest to poke fun at.
She was the first and her annoying habit became a meme.
At the time people were getting annoyed by her she wasn't a meme yet.
@@paulcrandell2198: hard for me to judge as she never annoyed. It wasn't until years later and seeing the memes that I had any idea there were people who claimed she was annoying.
As a kid I definitely thought the way her lines were phrased were annoying. But in a “go clean your room!” nagging way. Helps to think of her as Link’s exasperated mom trying to make him stop fishing and go save the world.
Thank you for including the DS Zelda games, for some reason i feel they are often ignored even though they are the two Zelda games i grew up on.
As annoying as Fi was, I think that made it all the more emotional in the 'goodbye' scene at the end of Skyward Sword -- and I literally jumped out of my seat when I heard her sound coming from the Master Sword in the flashback scene where Link gets mortally wounded in Breath of the Wild.
Tatl is the only companion I really connect with. Navi was given a grand quest by the tree. Red Lions was a king, Midna was a princess. Elzo (Ezlo?) was a magical item. Tatl just existed with her brother and their skull kid, they watched their friend change and tear them and their world apart. Tatl was just tryna vibe and got stuck trying to put the world back together. It was never her job or prophecy, parallel with Link's adventure in Termina. It wasn't his job to save everyone, but he did without a second thought
I think the thing that made me appreciate Navi is her mature attitude. Yeah she’s annoying, because she *is* nagging you. She’s like a mom or a way more mature older sister.
Which is also notable in how she leads you by the nose as kid Link, but when you’re an adult she’s at least as clueless about the world around you as you are, giving vague hints or just acting as a voice recorder for Sheik.
I dunno, I just always felt that the whole thing at the start of the game in Kokiri Forest was Link being officially not the “orphan” anymore. Everybody had their family, their parent who protects them, with Deku Tree watching over the families. But Link had no fairy. He had to be self-reliant as a kid. Then he gets his fairy mom, and there’s a little bit of joy in his life, only for grandpa Deku Tree to die in front of him asking him to do something. In that context there’s a whole extra layer to everything Navi does and is, and I always found it a bit weird how everyone hates her for it.
You love your mom, don’t you? Why the hell do you hate Navi for being Link’s mom, telling him to go clean his -room- Fire Temple?
NB: this also applies to the dynamics Link has with several other companions. King of Red Lions of course has a very fatherly way to him, Midna is 100% Link’s bratty little sister, Ezlo is the estranged workaholic/alcoholic uncle who doesn’t like kids, and Ciela is that cousin who idolises Link. Fi still comes across weird *because* she’s so alien… it’s like a smart fridge being considered family.
Tatl… never really hit for me. I found her much more annoying than Navi, actually, because she explicitly had no context. When she interjected, it was to say “I’m not affiliated!”.
The shika slate from breath of the wild should have basically contained Zelda's diary.
So you are learning about Zelda as you go through the game.
This is kind of the case already, but they could have made it more on the nose by adding more personality to some of the notes about stuff in the slate.
Would have not been intrusive, but would have made the information within more compelling.
Fi never bothered me as much as she seems to bother others. Her final scene in SS is so gutting to me. I REALLY hope that in BotW 2 she makes a reappearance (which I feel there's a decent chance considering it seems like the master sword took considerable damage and in the first game we hear Fi noises from the master sword in that one cutscene so she's clearly still in there and there's probably some repairing needed). I'd love to have more of Fi and get to see her with this more human perspective she's gained from her adventures with Link.
and maby a lot lest "hey listen"
I'd be interested to see what they do with her character design if they brought her back
I agree with Fi's development and how emotional it is to part ways with her made it all the more meaningful (for me at least). I would also add in SS the scene where you reunite with Fi after sneaking around is when it cemented where I felt more attached to her as a character.
Same, I don't mind her really. And I'd be very interested to see if she makes a proper return at some point, especially given the implied state of the Master Sword in BotW 2
Finally someone else who doesn’t mind Fi’s presence in Skyward sword
I recently bought skyward sword a while ago
I remember seeing my cousin play it while I watched him
Now I playing it on my own several years later
I actually love her presence.
I like how in Tears of the Kingdom we have companions in certain parts of the game but they don't interrupt our gameplay. I think that that was the thing that always annoyed me the most: how I couldn't play properly with all these interruptions.
I really like Midna because shes so critical to the story. Not just for gane play, being the thung allowing for warping and turning into a wolf, but she also has a complex plan going on in the background, and shes the one eho made him go get the pieces of the fused shadow and then the mirror of twilight. Without her, Link might have been able to escape the dungeon on his own with time, but after getting out he'd have no idea where to go or where the children were. Maybe he would have run into one of the light spirits and eventually saved the kids, but then he probably would have just gone home. He had the courage and desire to help, but he was just a farm boy and without a guide would have had no idea how to help. Gosh I love Twilight Princess
I think the series is at its best when you have companions. I loved having Zelda in Spirit Tracks and Midna in Twilight Princess. They were the best. I did think the Red Lion and Fii were pretty good. Despite her apparent controversies, I liked Navi.
For Botw 2, Zelda could make for an excellent occasional companion! She could be researching ancient technology/history to defeat Ganon and play a vital role in moving the story along while Link goes about following quests from her or finding Zelda herself. (Basically, let Zelda do what fascinated her so much in BOTW 1) She could just check in with Link by leaving a letter or some reward like food or something with a villager as she moves through different places. This way she never overstays her welcome and when you do meet her for a cutscene or gameplay section it feels nice to have someone with Link again! Whatever they end up doing, it seems like a waste they finally gave Zelda a cool haircut that eliminates her hair clipping problem and sent her to another Ganon torture fest after she just escaped the last one.
I find it funny how Nintendo replaced the Sheika slate's runes with Rauru's arm, but they still didn't bother making him an actual companion.
It's very funny and definitely not disappointing.
This video was such a beautiful analysis of the Zelda series. You perfectly described why I love these games so much and why they’ve been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. That ending genuinely brought tears to my eyes, thank you
I actually really like FI, i just think they needed to tone down her hand holdingness and perhaps make some mechanics a bit more fun. But her story arc and character was really fun--which is enough for me to make her one of my favorites besides DUH, midna who is the best.
Honestly, it's about execution, I think so anyway. Some of them, like the fairies in the phantom hourglass (the best of the 2) and spirit tracks don't detract from the experience, and linebeck is a great character while spirit zelda is attached to a cool mechanic AND helps add character to an otherwise rather flat role in the story, as the damsel in distress. (Also I loved the desolate feeling of some of the islands in phantom hourglass. Like your the only person there other than a few monsters and wildlife, and your just, all alone you know? And I liked how the other fairies were just sort of off to the side, just extra stuff that I thought felt oddly sacred in a way, just their island in general. Rose tinted glasses maybe, but I loved phantom hourglass)
Edit: one last thing. I'm probably the minority, but I actually really liked Fi. Her voice was quite nice, and her intrusions sorta made sense since she seems styled after a computer, or literally programmed by the goddess in some way
Second edit: so time and courage are connected, that makes sense and explains all the time fuckery we know and love. But what are the other aspects of power and wisdom?
Final edit I promise: nintendo did say they weren't abandoning 2D zelda, so maybe we'll get another companion soon?
Normally I’d say they’re both connected to raw magic, but I guess with BotW Zelda they’re pushing for Wisdom to start being connected to technology and Power to be connected to Magic. I guess a connection could be made between Power and “life” too, since it usually spawns or corrupts creatures.
@@thesquishedelf1301 I see it was courage more aligned with the "will" if creatures in a way, since it wards off possession and anything that hinders the holders agency. Essentially power is the body, magic is the soul, and courage is the mind. A body is all well and good, but without a will to push it forward, all you get is a vegetable
I’m not sure if this was added in Phantom Hourglass itself, since I haven’t played it yet. But Linebeck had even more characterization in the Manga.
*!SPOILER ALERT FOR THE PHANTOM HOURGLASS MANGA!*
He actually was a part of the Ghost ship’s crew. Before it became a ghost ship. And he ran away on the only escape boat when it got cursed. Leaving the other crew members to roam the ghost ship for eternity. It made his contribution in the final battle even more interesting and he was one of my favorite parts of the story.
The manga’s add a lot of new elements to the story of the games and I really recommend reading them if you haven’t. I’ve read a lot of them, and I loved all of them
Own them all physically, can confirm they all slap
@@callmezeldaonemoartime Nice, i’m trying to get them all as well. I’m only missing: Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask and Twilight Princess as far as I’m aware.
A quick question, out of all of them. Which one do you think is the best? (Mine is probably Four swords, phantom hourglass or Minish cap)
@@wplays4271 I would say Twilight Princess but that’s cheating, I really liked Four Swords honestly. It’s definitely the most unique
This is really interesting to hear you talking about BOTW this way with the context of the last TOTC trailer. Well a defining feature of BOTW was being alone that last trailer for TOTC draws a LOT of attention to the fact he has people fighting by his side.
I think Midna in Twilight Princess was my fav companion. Her importance to the story was interesting and I remember caring about her when I played it. The other companions never really bothered me but I only really remember having a player connection to her, and I enjoyed when she was on screen.
I always feel so sad when Midna says her final farewell to Link. I always thought that her, "Link, I...See you later" was always intended to be, "Link, I love you."
@@unhiddenhistory Having just finished a fresh playthrough, it really was. There's so many little looks the two share, up to and including directly before Midna fights Ganondorf on her own.
23:45 this "catalyst for change" character is often referred to as: the character having a "flat arc".
I like the term flat arc because it captures how good it is that a character like link doesn't change, but changes the characters and the world around him. Some people say that a protagonist needs to change for the art to be compelling, but that's just a lie. Change is one of the primary ingredients of Story, but I think Link should keep on being Link.
I think the wild itself is Links companion in Breath of the Wild. The horse you find and bond with and travel with from one side of the world to the other, making every possible person in kakariko village happy only to discover you've been betrayed all along, the little fox you refuse to kill and the birdies you try not to disturb. Buying a rundown old house somehow leading to the foundation of a whole new town and a wedding on top of that. The world itself changes and grows as you explore it. And it doesn't require cut scenes to do so. I honestly never really felt lonely in the game. If I wanted a companion I went to the nearest stable to ride my horse around, or I talk to the little girl who does a dance that Link apparently knows? It felt more peaceful than lonely.
You always bring it home, and i admit i get a little teary eyed-when you speak genuinely and nostalgically about games that we’re formative for you. Always worth the watch 💯 💕
I never realized how integral (and shoehorned) the hardware was in some Zelda titles (the wii motion controls, the dual screen of the wiiU/the switch itself literally being in Link's hands, even the DS games used the microphone for a couple mechanics, and of course the stylus). When I played Wind Waker HD on the WiiU, I thought it was super cool that it felt like I was holding the map in my hands that I could glance down at as I was exploring the dungeons. However, some of these mechanics feel like they were invented specifically to justify the technology they were on. Like a 3D movie with scenes where the characters pop out of the screen to justify its 3D release. I love Nintendo's constant push for creativity and innovation with their hardware (instead of just beefing up software). But there also needs to be a balance where these innovations are used to their fullest and not just as a gimmick.
Like oddesy and forcing homing to be motion controlled, like dude, why cant i just hit the throwing button again???
I would like to mention that there are precisely two completely different types of Zelda game.
1: Exploration focused, go out and find things to do and save the Princess. Not much story or narrative, besides the one that the player makes for themselves. Do the dungeons in whatever order you want, but you have to find them first.
2: Narrative focused. Tends to hold your hand and guide you along the narrative and towards cutscenes. You are often forced to do dungeons in a particular order.
The two big games exemplifying these two styles are debated, but often stated as the original or BoTW for the first type, and Skyward Sword or Twilight Princess for the second.
What is more important? The adventurous spirit of exploration that inspired the series in the first place? Or the story and narrative?
The answer of course depends on the person answering, it’s entirely pointless to even ask.
As for Link, the reason he’s a silent protagonist is because he’s supposed to be a “link” “between worlds” that the player can impose themselves onto.
To add to the 2nd camp. Your question of "Whats more important, the adventurous spirit of exploration and freedom that inspired the first game. Or the story, narrative beats, as well in addition, feeling of progression and more accessible entry.
I'm really tired of hearing people compare the first Zelda to Botw. They are almost nothing alike. There is a clear *intended* order to the dungeons in the original, even to the point that they are numbered. You cannot do them in any order because the tools gained in some dungeons are absolutely required to access or complete others. When miyamoto stated that botw was how he imagined the first Zelda but lacked the technology to make it so, he was spouting corporate propaganda to sell more games. They had no idea what they had in 1986. Botw is a Zelda game in name only.
Hmmmm... Nah. In A Link to the Past there was an overaching narrative but you were on your own for a chunk of the game. It had narrative driven moments and handled dungeons a lot like the original.
Imo the most zelda dungeon in botw was the Yiga hideout.
@@jordanwoods728 ehhh, there’s a huge overlap in overall feel. Zelda I and BOTW both have that lost feeling and encourage doing whatever the heck to find something useful or necessary; rupees are actually valuable; mini-“puzzles” and challenges are *everywhere*; combat is potentially threatening at nearly all times.
But yeah BOTW is still astoundingly different from the original Zelda. The Ubisoft Towers are the most obvious example of this. Definitely not what Miyamoto was imagining in 86 lmao.
@@jordanwoods728 They absolutely are alike and Aonuma explicitly stated that they made BotW in the spirit of the original. You also absolutely can do the dungeons in the original in almost any order you want. It doesn't matter if there's an intended order to beat the dungeons, you don't have to adhere to that order so it really doesn't mean anything.
You don't have to like it, but the two are similar and BotW is a Zelda game in essence just as much as in name. Appealing to weird conspiracy theories doesn't change that.
I really enjoyed Spirit Tracks and the ghost Zelda mechanic so I'm really happy to see it getting some love here! I feel like it's often overlooked as "the one with trains" which is a shame (but then again my first Zelda's were the DS games so maybe I'm nostalgic)
“The real treasure was the friends we made along the way” was his actual character arc, and it slaps for no reason
Zelda as a companion is amazing in Spirit Tracks. Love that game.
yes, her character is great and i think it also makes a big difference that she's integral to a good chunk of the dungeon stuff
Breath of the Wild's vibe would've been completely different with a companion. Talking to people should be kept scarce in a world that was almost destroyed 100 years ago. Most of the time Link is alone running around empty fields, devoid of intelligent life. Having a companion would've ruined that.
I feel it would have been a nice reward if she could have traveled with you post-game though.
While loneliness is a major feature of BOTW, it’s ultimately why I got bored of it eventually. I do like having companionship on my adventures even IRL. Alone time is nice, but when you have to be alone the entire time with no relationships developed to go back to, I eventually end up fighting ganondorf just to finish up the experience.
It definitely makes the towns all the more important.
I think there's a cozy balance where you feel _alone together._ Ico is built around this concept, and I'd love to see more like it.
I just bought a wolf link amiibo card online for like 4 bucks to solve this problem T-T
I would love to see this topic revisited with ToTK new “companions.”
Cool idea, bad implementation. I wish they were button mapped and weren't just lifeless spirits.
I respect that you put the sponsor at the end, not the beginning or middle.
Companions are fine if it's done like Midna, Ezlo, Zelda in Spirit Tracks, King of Red Lions, etc. The only companions I have an issue with is Navi and Fi since they feel more like a way to give tutorials instead of a character, but people definitely over exaggerate their annoyance.
For Navi yeah, but hard disagree with Fi. She is that annoying lol.
@@Player-jh4ko Fi really isn't more annoying than Navi, especially in the HD version. If anything Navi is more annoying because when you're just exploring she'll chime in with "hey listen" to remind you where you're supposed to go next every five minutes or so. Fi doesn't chime in on a time clock, and only pops up at set times.
I played OoT when I was pretty young and loved Navi. I think it was the main reason I was able to enjoy the game at such an early age
Amazing video! I personally love companions like anytime Zelda is with Link or other characters, I just think it should change and not be a constant. I love when Zelda follows you in A Link To The Past and Wolf Link in Breath Of The Wild!
Wonderful insights. The work you put into your videos shows. Thanks for sharing :)
I personally think that companions are best used when they're something that the player can choose to use when they want to. I found Fi the absolute worst companion of the entire franchise because of just how annoying she is, tutorializing me on every little thing. Meanwhile, Midna and the boat guy from Wind Waker are great. Boat guy gets left at the pier of whatever island you land on, and therefore, if you want his wisdom, you have to go ask him for it. Midna, meanwhile, creates some of the best moments in Twilight Princess. But neither of them are overbearing or annoying.
"boat guy" come on have some respect that's boat dad
Just use Zelda in place of other companions. She can be with you for tutorial areas then spilt ways for plot reasons. Include bits of Zeldas story with her being playable. She could replace both companions and "transformations" like wolf link because playing as Zelda should feel very different.
I honestly really like the gameplay idea behind navi, just having a companion that hovers over and lights up different points of interest. If you couple that with a paper mario style, location/situation based dialogue, activated only by the player, you have a great companion already.
observing co-dependent companions, like mario odyssey's cappy or ratchet and clank's clank, removing them from the equation restricts the player in some way, usually movement. This works as long as you don't use it as an excuse for companion specific sections (like clank sections), keep it grounded in the core game mechanics (notice how odyssey has no cappy sections, instead relegating controlling cappy specifically to 2-player mode), and you introduce them after already establishing the player's base move set (that way the companion is a gift and taking them away in later sections is not a seen as a punishment or annoyance... as much).
Most games use companion stripping to present a challenge or new design opportunities for specific sections, which is usually seen as annoying to the player, but I'd be interested in a mechanic that revolves around the player making the choice to strip themselves of their companion. Kind of like a "special move" that puts your companion on cooldown, but implemented into their core mechanics and isn't just used in puzzles, so you'd use it often in combat or for movement. The idea being a swap between two very different playstyles, intentionally initiated by the player for optimization. Something like a mount or literal tag-team between two characters
I feel like companions were essentially a way to get a secondary character with some sort of story relevance, while also helping the player. They've shown through the modern titles that they can have so many more than just one secondary character with story relevance, and many characters can help guide you through the world, instead of having one character doing that over and over.