A hero of time shrouded in mystery reappears
By Michael McWhertor on May 19, 2023 at 5:10 pm
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Link is told of the centuries-old defeat of Calamity Ganon at the hands of a vast army of Guardians, four divine beasts, a powerful princess infused with the blood of the goddess, and her hero of the time. as chosen by the Master Sword.
The identity of the hero who fought alongside the Princess and the forces of the Kingdom of Hyrule some 10,000 years ago has been the subject of much debate for the last six years, leading some to theorize that it was Ganondorf himself – the antagonist from The Legend of Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom – who defeated and sealed Calamity Ganon before a big heel turn. But a big closing event in Tears of the Kingdom gives players a better look at who that hero actually was, even if the reveal leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
[Ed. note: Spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom follow.]
Players can earn a new piece of gear called Ancient Hero Aspect after completing 100% of the shrines in Tears of the Kingdom. There are more than 150 shrines in Tears of the Kingdom, and completing them all – let alone finding them all – is a major hurdle. But the reward is cool. The player can obtain it in the Temple of Time after completing The Shrine Explorer side quest.
The Ancient Hero’s Aspect game description states: “This item is said to contain the spirit of a hero who once saved Hyrule. This hero’s aura will envelop the wearer.” Here’s what it looks like:
Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon
As you can see, the ancient hero’s aspect aura not only grants Link another armful of Zonai technology, it also fully equips him and transforms him into an entirely different species. The ancient hero is adorned with the Zonai aesthetic players see in Constructs in Tears of the Kingdom, and sports the long, fiery red hair depicted on the Calamity Ganon lore rug featured by Impa Link in Breath of the Wild. However, the name of this ancient hero is unknown – and certainly ripe for exploration in future Zelda content.
The ancient hero appears to be a Zonai based on shared physical aspects with Rauru, a Zonai and co-founder of the Kingdom of Hyrule. Rauru plays an important role in the Tears of the Kingdom narrative, both through flashbacks and as a guide during the tutorial. Hopefully we’ll learn more about this mysterious new hero and his connections to Hyrule history in the years to come.
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