Spoiler Breath of the Wild takes place after Adventure of Link if Link dies

[writertyler]

There are many theories on where the new installment in the franchise will take place (Breath of the Wild.) The one that is most speculated is that this game takes place after Ocarina of Time in the Fallen Hero Timeline before LTTP. At first, I agreed with this theory but then I got to thinking. What if only part of this

Theory: There is a split during Adventure of Link (Zelda 2) if/when you die and Breath of the Wild is the first in this new timeline (The Fallen Hero in the Fallen Hero Timeline).

Why the split here?
Notice in pretty much every other Zelda installment the Game Over screen reads "Game Over." However, in this game it reads "Return of Ganon" with an evil laugh, who presumably, is Ganon. Now you may say, part of the plot is to prevent the resurrection of Ganon, who for some reason needs the blood of Link to be resurrected. Well, in Majora's Mask, part of the plot is to prevent the moon falling so when you die from running out of hearts, shouldn't you be met with a cutscene of the moon falling and destroying Terminia and respawn back outside Clock Tower on the Dawn of the First Day? Instead you're met with a simple Game Over screen.
OK, well, in the official timeline there is a three-way split due to the events of OOT. While, it's understandable how the Adult and Child Timelines are created due to the time travel aspect. However, nothing the game lore suggests that if you die, especially, during the final battle with Ganon, that there is an alternative ending.

What happens then?
First you must understand the plot of Adventure of Link. Open this in a new tab and then come back here.
Here are some things you'll need to remember:
1. When you die Ganon is resurrected using the blood of Link.
2. This is a direct sequel to the original Legend of Zelda, in which Breath of the Wild has a similar logo.
3. Impa exists.
4. This Zelda is in a slumber but the prince declares to name all female children of the royal household Zelda.
5. Link must journey to different palaces to defeat "guardians."
6. Hyrule during this time is not 1 country but split up, similar to how the Hyrule in BOTW is split up into different regions.

First of off, Ganon has been resurrected a few times in the series prior to this. Never, have they mentioned needing the Blood of the Hero to do so. Perhaps, this a plot to try to make it so that Ganon cannot be destroyed by the Master Sword.
So let's say this is similar to Voldemort's resurrection using Harry Potter's blood.
We know that in BOTW, the Master Sword, the Blade of Evil's Bane, is pretty much the only thing known to be able to defeat Ganon. However, this new Ganon (Calamity Ganon), which has the Blood of a Hero running through his veins. Now, similar to Samurai Jack, Jack's sword will not hurt him. So, could the reason the Master Sword is really damaged is because it's a sort of defense mechanism because the spirit of the blade believes it's trying to harm a hero?

Now, let's talk about Impa. When you hear Link, you automatically, think of a hero. Zelda is a princess who needs rescuing and, usually, has some other significant meaning to the overall plot. Ganon is the villain. so, Impa, we know has always been a Sheikah, even if not, actually mentioned, because each installment in the series is a legend, and sometimes not every detail of a legend is retold and some parts are changed.
About two decades after the original is killed, a new more powerful Ganon is resurrected. A new Link sets out on a quest to defeat Ganon. Sometime during this time period the guardians are activated to help Link but turn against the Sheikah due to Ganon. Link meets the new Zelda (Who is probably the daughter of the prince mentioned in Zelda 2), who tells Link where he can find the Master Sword. He pulls the blade and returns to Zelda who gets captured. Link goes to confront Ganon but the Master Sword has no effect on Ganon anymore with former Link's blood coursing through his veins. Link is moments from death before Zelda sends him to the Shrine of Resurrection and seals Ganon in Hyrule Castle and 100 years past... "Open your eyes!" Breath of the Wild begins.

 

[DeactivatedUser2]

2 decades is an incredibly short span of time for there to be a new Link and Zelda.. Plus, the Zelda from the original and Zelda the 1st would still be alive. Does that mean that there are now three Zeldas, based on your theory? Not to mention, Breath of the Wild has had an extended age of peace before the main story happens. The downfall timeline basically goes to trash post TFH-AoL's successful ending. There's no peace being ruined in AoL's bad ending; there are still horrible monsters roaming the land during the game. Also, we know that the Master Sword has no quarrels with damaging Link; Ghirahim wielded the Goddess Sword against him with no resistance. Also, the Prince is dead at this point in the game, as the Tragedy of Princess Zelda the 1st happened many, MANY decades prior. I could get more into depth on why this theory wouldn't work, but these are the main points I wanted to hit.

 

[VitaTempusN92]

Please, for love of Christs, no more "Game Over" Timelines! Also, it's confirmed that Link, wearing the Champion Shirt (not the green tunic) was killed by a Guardian (which does not appear in TAoL), which we don't see in TAoL. Not to mention due to the lack of Greater Hyrule and highly strong presence of all the races, Gerudo, Sheikah, Gorons, Koroks, Bird people, and Zoras, I doubt this game is even After OoT at all! And don't you dare say "but...but, what about the ruins?". Do NOT forget that there is such thing as "rebuild", which is what this game is so much centered around! REBUILDING Hyrule! Not to mention the strong presence of faith in Hylia (There are not only statues of her ALL over the place, but they also look EXACTLY the SAME as the one from SS), the absence of Lon Lon Ranch, the role of Epona, and most importantly, the lack of the Hero of Time legend/prophecy.

And before you say "but there's a goddess statue in TAoL", let me remind you that that is all there is of Hylia as a goddess in TAoL, while no one in that time believes in her or even speaks her name. A lot of the Hyrulean people MC/OoT (depending which you think is first) and later tend to believe in the three goddesses, Nayru, Din, and Farore rather than Hylia, as if they have forgotten about her. While in BotW, it is confirmed that people still worship Hylia, as we see the Sheikah talking about her, the Old Man said that the Temple of Time was used to hold sacred ceremonies (which contradicts with it's purpose in OoT and later), and in the tapesty at back of the map shows people running towards the Hylia statue, as if they pleading for Hylia's protection. We don't see this at all in OoT and later. Faith in Hylia is close to extinction in OoT and later, and completely gone in the Downfall Timeline. One of the reasons why I don't believe that the Cross in TAoL has much to do with Hylia. Maybe in the Child Timeline, but not in the Downfall Timeline.

But other that, in all three post split timelines, the True Pure Hylian Religion is fractured and severed down to a minimal with only very select people ever believing in her. And everyone after MC/OoT who ever does or did, only refer to her as "Goddess" or "Hylian Goddess" and not "Goddess Hylia", since they didn't live in the time of proper Hylian faith. As most people in MC/OoT and later, only believe in the three goddesses. Not to mention the Goddess Statues that exist after OoT don't even look the same as the one from SS. But the statues in BotW, on the hand do!

Also, there is the presence of familiar places from SS seen in BotW's recent trailer. And yes, I'm talking about the Goddess Springs. With that all said, there is no way this game sets after OoT. Downfall, Adult, and Child Timeline are all out of the equation. This game has to be, without a single doubt, in the Origin Timeline, before OoT.

 

[Kylo Ken]

Downfall, Adult, and Child Timeline are all out of the equation. This game has to be, without a single doubt, in the Origin Timeline, before OoT.

But what about the Kuroks?

 

[Zachie]

Remember to stay on topic friends.

 

[Tibari]

You're wrong and right, OP.
The backstory revealed that Calamity Ganon appeared and Link/Zelda tried to defeat him. So Link can't be dead before Ganon's resurection.
BoTW is happening after AOL, but not if Link dies. The events that happened 100 years before BoTW take place a long time after the events of AOL.
And this is the only possible answer because Aonuma said that in a french interview :
"Mais vous avez certains indices en voyant que dans le jeu, parce qu'une voix dans le jeu vous dit que le monde d'Hyrule a souffert de nombreux combats contre Ganon"
=> But there are some hints in the game, because a voice in the game tells you that Hyrule suffered of several fights against Ganon.

 

[VitaTempusN92]

But what about the Kuroks?

it's been said, countless times that Koroks can exist at any time. Also, there's a sheikah in the game, recently revealed, that even further proves my point about the strong presences of all the races. More importantly the races that were either cut short in population and treated as outcast or cut down severely down to near extinction and treated as the feared "legendary" "shadow folk" of Hyrule, by the events. Which do not see here in BotW. All the races are still together and treated as equals. Proving that this game absolutely has to be before OoT! Without a doubt.

 

[Tibari]

Of after Zelda II, with enough time to let the races grow including Sheikah.

 

[DragonEleven]

You're wrong and right, OP.
The backstory revealed that Calamity Ganon appeared and Link/Zelda tried to defeat him. So Link can't be dead before Ganon's resurection.
BoTW is happening after AOL, but not if Link dies. The events that happened 100 years before BoTW take place a long time after the events of AOL.
And this is the only possible answer because Aonuma said that in a french interview :
"Mais vous avez certains indices en voyant que dans le jeu, parce qu'une voix dans le jeu vous dit que le monde d'Hyrule a souffert de nombreux combats contre Ganon"
=> But there are some hints in the game, because a voice in the game tells you that Hyrule suffered of several fights against Ganon.

Just to point out, but the translation from the tapestry implies that Ganon had been fought multiple times during the events 100 years before BotW, making that line essentially irrelevant.
But bear in mind that this quote would have already been translated from Japanese to French... so it's meaning may have been slightly distorted, and Aonuma may have been drawing attention to what the voice says in general, rather than that specific line.
Another line that the voice also says mentions that Ganon had 'endured through the ages', which implies that Ganon has never been killed in any of it's battles.
This substantially limits the number of places where BotW could take place, due to the number of games in which Ganon is killed.... in fact, OoT and FSA are the only two instances where Ganon survives the final battle, being imprisoned in both instead.

 

[DeactivatedUser2]

"Endured through the ages means he survived all of his battles"
you realize he died in Twilight Princess right, and he wasn't revived like the Downfall Timeline, meaning he in fact did NOT endure in the CT when compared to the DT.

.
Another line that the voice also says mentions that Ganon had 'endured through the ages', which implies that Ganon has never been killed in any of it's battles.
This substantially limits the number of places where BotW could take place, due to the number of games in which Ganon is killed.... in fact, OoT and FSA are the only two instances where Ganon survives the final battle, being imprisoned in both instead.

 

[DragonEleven]

"Endured through the ages means he survived all of his battles"
you realize he died in Twilight Princess right, and he wasn't revived like the Downfall Timeline, meaning he in fact did NOT endure in the CT when compared to the DT.

I was just pointing out that those are the only two times where Ganon is not killed... I wasn't saying that they were both possibilities.
After FSA may still be a possibility, as that is technically a different Ganon, having been reincarnated rather than resurrected, so that Ganon has never been killed... although that would be a bit of a stretch, making post-OoT most likely.
But considering that Ganon is killed every single time he appears in the downfall timeline, you can't say he endured in the slightest... so if it is in the downfall timeline, then it would need to come between OoT and ALttP.

 

[DeactivatedUser2]

I was just pointing out that those are the only two times where Ganon is not killed... I wasn't saying that they were both possibilities.
After FSA may still be a possibility, as that is technically a different Ganon, having been reincarnated rather than resurrected, so that Ganon has never been killed... although that would be a bit of a stretch, making post-OoT most likely.
But considering that Ganon is killed every single time he appears in the downfall timeline, you can't say he endured in the slightest... so if it is in the downfall timeline, then it would need to come between OoT and ALttP.

en·dure
inˈd(y)o͝or,enˈd(y)o͝or/
verb

1. 1.
   suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.

2. 2. remain in existence; last.


Actually, these definitions sound exactly like what Ganon did in the Downfall Timeline. He may not have survived every battle and died quite a few times, but its quite undeniable that he definitely endured the entire Timeline, returning again and again to battle Link.
Also, keep in mind that Aonuma saying Ganon has been fought multiple times prior to BotW means it has to be far down on any of the Timelines.

 

[DragonEleven]

en·dure
inˈd(y)o͝or,enˈd(y)o͝or/
verb

1. 1.
   suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.

2. 2. remain in existence; last.


Actually, these definitions sound exactly like what Ganon did in the Downfall Timeline. He may not have survived every battle and died quite a few times, but its quite undeniable that he definitely endured the entire Timeline, returning again and again to battle Link.
Also, keep in mind that Aonuma saying Ganon has been fought multiple times prior to BotW means it has to be far down on any of the Timelines.

1. Death ended any suffering each time, so his suffering was minimal.
2. When he died he ceased to exist until he was resurrected the next time, and he didn't last long when he was.
As I've pointed out previously, the tapestry implies that there was multiple battles with Ganon 100 years before BotW before the final battle where he was imprisoned in the castle... so no matter where it comes in the timeline, this guarantees that he would have been fought multiple times before.