Hey everyone! I’m diving into the timeline of Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK) and how it relates to earlier games in the series, especially Ocarina of Time (OoT). There’s been a lot of back-and-forth in the community about whether the Hyrule we see in TOTK is the same one from previous games. I believe there could be at least three distinct Kingdoms of Hyrule based on established timelines. My main point of contention is how TOTK seemingly rewrites some history seen in OoT, particularly concerning the sages and the Imprisoning War. I think this can be understood as the events of TOTK happening before OoT, with the sages in TOTK being the original ones and those we meet in OoT being their successors (with the exception of Rauru). There are also details in flashbacks that suggest continuity with the original Hyrule we knew.
I’ve noted things like the appearance of younger versions of characters like Kotake and Koume and the existence of Mogma statues, which indicate that the timeline is more consistent than some believe. Could the Imprisoning War simply be a few generations before OoT without fully contradicting it? And how do the connections to the Zonai and Interlopers play into this? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
3 Answers
Honestly, I think the confusion is part of what makes the series great! The developers could be using this opportunity to refresh the lore for a whole new generation of players. Plus, there are so many connections and Easter eggs they’ve thrown into TOTK that it keeps old fans engaged too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they left specific things vague on purpose just to stir up discussions like this!
I totally get where you’re coming from! It’s interesting to think about how TOTK might actually fit into the broader timeline without really contradicting OoT. The idea that the sages we see in TOTK are the original ones does make sense, especially since Rauru seems to be the only one that carries on. It’s also nice to see the return of familiar faces like Kotake and Koume, just younger this time. I think they’re just trying to show the cyclical nature of Hyrule’s history, where it gets founded and falls repeatedly over generations.
I hear you on that! But there’s a bunch of people who argue that the timeline doesn’t really matter for Eiji Aonuma. He’s more about the storytelling and gameplay than sticking to one timeline. Some fans feel that TOTK might redefine our understanding of Hyrule entirely. Of course, that could create a lot of debates about what’s official and what isn’t, especially if the developers don’t clarify things soon!
True! The timeline has always been a hot topic. I think Nintendo’s just embracing that ambiguity so we can enjoy the adventure without getting too hung up on whether it fits neatly into the timeline. It’s kind of fun to speculate!
Exactly! The whole idea of cycles in the Zelda timeline has been a big theme for a long time. It feels like Hyrule’s history is meant to be fluid, and every new game can add layers without completely wiping the slate clean. Plus, with how creative the developers can be, they could totally create a rich backstory in between these major titles!