Since revealing the picture at right during the last E3, we have been starved for information about the newest adventure of Link. But The Legend of Zelda fansite Zelda Informer believes they might have have something interesting in the form of some rumors.
Naturally, rumors breed skepticism, but they believe the source of these rumors to be a little more credible than most. That source is none other than 2ch, a Japanese message board whose rumors “more often than not turn out to be true.”
“First off, they were the first people to break the news and story for every single Kingdom Hearts game ever made, long before it was publicly released. They released all the news for Metal Gear Solid 4, Resident Evil 4 and 5, and pretty much every Square Enix RPG ever made. Interestingly enough, back in 2003, they also broke The Wind Waker’s story roughly two months before release, and no, prerelease copies were apparently not out yet stateside. So the question needs to be asked: If the community there has been right so many times with rumors, then why can’t they be right this time around?”
I cannot say I’ve honestly kept track of their record; however, I do know I’ve found a fair share of Mega Man/Rockman news via scans and other things they’ve posted. That said, here is what 2ch is claiming, and you can judge for yourself how likely you believe it to be.
Word has it that the gameplay and basic mechanics are already complete, and that players will be able to choose from a left-handed or a right-handed Link. And as Producer Eiji Aonuma has said, the game will vary from the typical field/dungeon/field method we’ve become accustomed to.
Presently, they are polishing up the story and characters, including an innkeeper in Link’s home village whose son looks up to Link. The game is said to take place in lands other than Hyrule, if Hyrule itself is even involved.
The girl in the picture above, speculated by many to be related to– or to simply be the Master Sword– is not the Master Sword at all. Word is that the Master Sword itself may not even appear in the game at all.
In fact, Link’s sword is said to be “highly unique” in this game, and it will have several unlockable abilities (pulling for sword beams here). The girl, whose name could possibly be Adelle, Adella, or Aderu, won’t travel alongside Link in the game, but instead communicate with him through this blade.
Something else said not to be in the game is the girl’s face– at least, as we see it in the artwork above. There is not much elaboration except to say that the face was placeholder concept art, if not the entire piece.
Horse-lovers may rejoice, as Epona is back with horseback combat. And apparently, she’ll avoid obstacles automatically.
It is said that models for three “significant” characters have been touched up, but none of them are Zelda or Ganondorf. Zelda Informer notes “Google translate gives rough names of Link, Gorons, and Epona, but our translator said it’s not specifically mentioned.”
And finally, here’s the shocker, which could make this rumor a great thing for some people, or bring skeptics out in full-force: the idea of this Link being the Hero of Time has been “highly considered,” and may already be implemented, as time travel is said to play a role in the game.
Zelda Informer notes that this would make sense of Nintendo’s statement that “this is the oldest Link yet.” Plus, if it goes beyond Hyrule, it could tie into Link’s quest to find Navi, as seen in Majora’s Mask.
Of course, this is all a rumor at present, and as we all know, Nintendo does not comment on rumors and speculation. Come to think of it, I’m not really even sure who does.
But I digress; this is probably something people will be chewing on along the road to E3, where we will hopefully get some answers– especially if the game is supposed to be released this year, as Nintendo Co. Ltd. President Satoru Iwata has said.
