Royalty has always held back the relationship between Link and Zelda. The inherent power dynamic between an obedient knight and a princess dedicated to her kingdom have prevented the duo from blossoming beyond damsel in distress and inevitable saviour for decades. Certain games in the series, like Spirit Tracks and Breath of the Wild, have expanded upon their traditional partnership by shaking up the circumstances between them and their own respective adventures, but they remain shackled to a monarchy, a need to save Hyrule and return things to the status quo by any means necessary.
Because of this, progression beyond this point is often stifled until the mission is over, until the credits have rolled and we’re left to ruminate on where said iterations of these characters might go when our time with them is over. Breath of the Wild 2 has the potential to expand upon Princess Zelda’s position in her world and reclaim a sense of agency outside of flashbacks, but there’s far too many variables to predict for me to tell whether or not Nintendo will do her justice. So my attention turns to Skyward Sword HD.
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The remaster recently arrived on Nintendo Switch and introduces the polarising classic to an entirely new audience, who seem to have been embraced with open arms. While the Wii original was hamstrung by clunky motion controls and overbearing tutorials, the HD upgrade has done away with many of these issues and introduces a broad range of improvements that make it more enjoyable than ever. While I’m still only part way through the adventure, I’m utterly captivated, curious to see where this journey goes and how it continues to expand upon the traditional series’ formula.
What’s most surprising is how smitten I am with the unfolding narrative. It isn’t your usual Zelda adventure. Sure, our two main characters are inevitably called to play their part in an ancient prophecy and save the world from inevitable ruin, but where they begin couldn’t be more different. Link isn’t a seasoned knight and Zelda isn’t a princess bound by duty, they are just dorky teenagers trying to find their way in the aerial confines of Skyloft. Link’s final exam in the game’s opening moments acts as a proof of connection between him and Zelda, a cementation of romantic feelings shared between the duo that are torn apart by fate before they have a chance to blossom.
Dialogue establishes a strong bond between Link and Zelda, a relationship that past games weren’t able to capitalise upon because of the context in which the two characters existed. In Skyward Sword, Link is a clueless himbo who is pure of heart and simply wants to do right by everyone. He greets Zelda’s playful remarks with a wide smile, while he also doesn’t hesitate to jump into action whenever she’s placed in danger. Breath of the Wild establishes a similar atmosphere between them, but the nature of its storytelling and dependence on flashbacks meant that it never reached its true potential. The sequel might, but for now, this Wii classic remains cream of the crop.
After she’s whisked away to the surface, we only catch brief glimpses of Zelda in the coming hours as we complete temples and learn about her true purpose in all this. Impa informs us we aren’t worthy of helping her, as we’re chastised and told we’d only get in the way. So Link needs to prove her wrong, to show that he is the Hero of Time capable of helping his close friends through thick and thin even if it means putting himself in danger. With a lack of voice acting, facial expressions carry much of the emotional weight and do a phenomenal job of convincing us these characters truly care for one another.
Zelda isn’t a damsel in distress here, she’s simply pulled away from Link and her hometown since a greater purpose has been thrust upon her. She’s burdened by destiny, but not royalty, and seems to understand the meaning of her responsibility and how she must abide by such things and face the consequences. She wants to explain all of this to Link, but whenever an opportunity arises she is taken away, forcing us to consider our own actions and keep pushing forward in service of saving our friend and the world. I’m yet to see where Skyward Sword’s story goes and haven’t been spoiled despite its age, so I can’t wait to uncover how the relationship between Link and Zelda develops, and if it continues to subvert expectations in such unconventional ways. I hope it does, since thus far it’s something special.
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