From the very beginning we all knew the Zelda games were connected to one another but the how they were connected remained a mistery for many years. Fans from every place tried to create their own version of the timeline based on how much they knew the franchise and with the official statement that there were two different time periods. However, Nintendo revealed on 2011 the official timeline in the book Hyrule Historia which featured not one, not two, but three different time periods that included every single title that had been released. But now that Zelda U is coming out it’s time to revisit the timeline and speculate on which part it could be set. My theory is that it will take place right after Demise was defetead. That’s right, after the events in Skyward Sword.
Considering that there is very little we know about the new Zelda U you might think it’s very soon to have such a theory but, actually, we do have some things that could make us think it’s the other way around. First of all, we have to discard one almost impossible chance. Nintendo had said that Skyward Sword would be the very first title chronologically speaking and that it would be very complicated to make a prequel of it. That been said, let’s go.
To get started with, we have to see at the little evidence we have. First of all, in the massive world, it doesn’t look like many towns have been established, which would mean that they have very primitive lifestyles or that it can be a new land that was just recently discovered. Skyward Sword is meant to tell the story of why “the surface” is not inhabited and how it got inhabited again. And the world in Skyward Sword was in fact pretty huge, however, not everywhere could be explored, only specific areas. So, now we will be able to explore most of that surface. So there might be a very convincing connection there.
Secondly, we have to take a look at Link’s clothing. It’s the same style that was featured in Skyward Sword. I know that those clothes in SS are also very similar to the ones he uses in Twilight Princess. Nonetheless, Twilight Princess art style was dark to match the story and having a cel shaded game as its direct sequel would be very awkward. That’s why it makes more sense that he wears the same clothes as Skyward Sword.
Also, the only weapon we have seen from him is, apart from his sword and shield, a very peculiar bow and arrow. It looks as it’s been made with some ancient technology. Lets remember what we discovered in The Surface in Skyward Sword. The Ancient Robots lived in an era long time ago but we can actually see them if we travel to past periods using the Timeshift Stones. These robots used to have very ancient technology to help the unnamed people who built them. There’s also the Lanayru Mining Facility which is a large, technologically advanced mining facility staffed by robots. All this has recently been discovered, so it makes sense that they take advantage of it. And wouldn’t they know how to use it, there’s Scrapper, a robot survivor.
The other Zelda games that are known for their notorious technological advancements are the ones present in the Adult’s Timeline, being The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass with some boats and Spirit Tracks with the trains and Link being an actual engineer. But it’s not very likely that this game can be a sequel to them because we haven’t seen any railroads, to begin with.
Last, but not least, there’s the biggest possibility of all. The Sailcloth! The only time this item has been seen in Skyward Sword when Zelda gives it to Link as the trophy of the Wing Ceremony. The fact that he keeps it for his new journey does make quite sense, considering how useful it was when falling from very high places. However, it’s been given another use. It seems not it can be used as a Deku Leaf, like the one in The Wind Waker. But back to the theory, no other game has it and it would be really weird to see they created a new, identical one. Even the green tunic that is customed for the new heroes to wear has had its modifications.
Another thing that has been shown from the game is Epona. But I don’t consider her relevant to have a conclusion because Epona has appeared in two very different periods. Ocarina of Time – Majora’s Mask and a hundres years later in Twilight Princess. So, Epona can reappear as something that doesn’t affect the timeline directly.
Since before and after the official timeline has been revealed a franchise that has so many games connected to one another always make people debate about how they are connected and as long as more Zelda games get released, there will be material to keep debating.
That’s all the evidence I can find for now to say in which part of the Timeline this new game will be placed. Of course, the evidence is minimum but I thought it was quite convincing. As soon as there is new info about the game details I will update my theory.
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