Although Nintendo has shared a bit of gameplay fromThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, the central ways that the game will innovate on its predecessor haven’t all become clear. A lot of the first game’s core components are still present, from Link’s paraglider to certain Runes from his Sheikah Slate. However, the technically unnamed sequel clearly intends to push the boundaries ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,based on Link’s teased flamethrower weapon and new enemies that he’ll encounter. IfBotW2has room for more experimentation, then it might want to try giving Link access to magic again.
The Legend of Zeldahas a somewhat complicated history when it comes to putting magic in the player’s hands, butBreath of the Wildmay be the right time to take a new step in this direction. PastZeldaprecedent offers plenty of inspiration for a magic system inBotW,and the current version of Hyrule already hides so many magical secrets that it wouldn’t be all that hard for Link to learn new arcane skills. What’s more,BotW2’s plot seems to hint ata particularly magic-heavy depiction of Link.Breath of the Wild 2seems like the ideal time to put spellcasting in the hands ofZeldafans once again.
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The State of Spellcasting in Zelda
Even though theZeldafranchise takes place in a high fantasy world, fans usually have limited access to magical powers. One of the few games in which Link has spellcasting abilities wasZelda 2: The Adventure of Link,where players can learn magic that does everything from increase their defense to turn Link into a fairy temporarily.Ocarina of Timealso features a few spells that Link can learn from the Great Fairies of Magic. However, beyond these titles, mostZeldagames only put magic in Link’s hands through items like elemental arrows that sometimes drain a Magic Meter.
Breath of the Wild 2features plenty of magical abilities, but it doesn’t have a strict spellcasting system in the style ofZelda 2or evenOcarinaof Time.Link can mainly access supernatural abilities by using the Runes in his Sheikah Slate, picking up Wands from defeated Wizzrobes, orgaining boons from the ghostly Champions. While all of these abilities are compelling, they’re not quite the same as a proper spellcasting system, since many of them are either passive effects that players can hardly control or functionally just items that Link uses.
Upgrading Magic in Breath of the Wild 2
A more regimented spellcasting system would be a valuable addition toBreath of the Wild 2because it could simultaneously spice up combat, exploration, and much more. Nintendo could streamline Runes andactivated abilities like Revali’s Galeby compiling them into a single magic system that shares a resource pool, rather than asking players to keep track of various separate resources and cooldown timers. At the same time, Nintendo could introduce new targeting systems and button inputs that make using special abilities easier than ever. Using an ability by quickly pressing a certain button input while locked onto a target could be much more exciting and practical than switching over to a Rune and trying to line it up with a target.
Adding more concrete spellcasting toBreath of the Wild 2would definitely make combat more interesting. Not only could Link learn all kinds of aggressive spells that help him pulverize his enemies, but he could learn a variety of defensive spells that impair his enemies or shield him from damage, all of which would be interesting to weave together withBreath of the Wild’s existing combat. Magic would also give players something new to find while exploring. Link might occasionally uncover new spells inAncient Shrines or similar ruins, giving fans one more thing to seek out and collect. Spirit Orbs could become all the more valuable if Link has a magic meter to increase. Aside from these features, Nintendo could add magic-related benefits toBreath of the Wild’s food, create new puzzles driven by new spells, and so on.
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Why Spellcasting Has a Place in Breath of the Wild 2
Breath of the Wild 2is the perfect game for reintroducing spellcasting in a big way because Link seems to be inherently magical in this game. The trailers have strongly implied that the mysterious green arm that once held the apparent corpse of Ganondorf will fuse with Linkafter he’s attacked by Malice. That arm certainly seems to possess special abilities of some kind, based on the way it has glowed in certain trailers. Whether the arm represents a new companion character that’ll join Link inBreath of the Wild 2or it’s simply a mystical force that fuses with him, this arm seems to open the door to bold new spellcasting powers inBreath of the Wild 2.
The broader state of Hyrule also encourages the introduction of a new magic system.Breath of the Wild 2seems even more focused on ancient secrets coming to light than the first game, and the rise of buried evil forces gives Link an opportunity to tap into his own lost magical potential. What’s more,the Master Sword is heavily damaged, meaning Link may need to seek out alternate ways to battle and defeatBreath of the Wild 2’s antagonist. The arcane arts might offer Link the power necessary to save Hyrule a second time.
Breath of the Wild 2 is Growing and Innovating
Regardless of if Nintendo reintroduces the Magic Meter inBotW2or not, the new game has already shown off a fair few innovations when it comes to Link’s supernatural abilities.The secondBreath of the Wildsequel trailershowed Link using a seemingly upgraded form of the Stasis Rune, immediately launching a spiked ball back at some monsters. The trailer also showed Link shooting up into the air and passing through solid stone to access a sky island. Link will clearly gain new abilities, but whether they’re part of aZeldamagic overhaul remains to be seen.
Breath of the Wild 2already promises to upgrade on the first game’s concepts in a variety of ways, but that doesn’t mean an upgraded magic system should be pushed to the side. Upgrades toBotW2’s magic could improve gameplay in virtually all departments, and it has a lot of narrative benefits too. Aside from using magic to battle Hyrule’s enemies, it would be interesting to watch Link study the arcane whileZelda continues learning to use the goddess Hylia’s divine powers. Innovation is the name of the game forBreath of the Wild 2,and a spellcasting overhaul would undoubtedly provide fertile soil for innovation.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2releases in early 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
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