Daily Debate: Should the Twili Race Be Featured More Prominently in a Future Zelda Game?
Posted on November 09 2021 by Michaela El-Ters
The first time I played Twilight Princess, I was so excited at the prospect of venturing to the Twilight Realm. There were hints of what Midna’s people are like. The Twili’s ancestors are characterized as masters of sorcery, and a great conflict in the past forced the Light Spirits to banish them and seal away their most powerful magic. When Midna reminisces about her home, she describes it as having a “serene beauty,” and her people “pure and gentle.” Needless to say, when the time came to teleport through the Mirror of Twilight to the Twilight Realm, I was looking forward to seeing the culture and home of Midna’s people first hand. Unfortunately, the Palace of Twilight — the only explorable area of the realm — acts as a dungeon, and because of that, there is little to no world-building or development of either the Twilight Realm or the Twili whatsoever. The Twili don’t speak and they just stand there awkwardly outside the palace after you restore them from Zant’s curse. It was pretty disappointing.
The Zelda series — particularly Breath of the Wild — incorporates excellent world-building, lore, and culture, and I think the Twili should be more prominently featured in another Zelda game. There are endless opportunities. Do they still practice magic, but in a more peaceful way? The Sol are valuable items in their world, do they worship them in any way? How does their history as Interlopers impact them now? Are there other races within the Twilight Realm that they trade with? What about other Twili? Midna is a fantastic companion, and Zant is a solid villain, but I’d love to meet other characters, too. Does Midna have an advisor or bodyguard? Is there a sorcerer who trains others in magic? How do they live their lives? What would a Twili village look like, would it have similar architecture to the Palace of Twilight?
There is so much potential for the Twili to become a fully established and believable group of individuals, and I feel Twilight Princess greatly missed the mark here. When done right, visiting the other regions and interacting with other races in Hyrule feels like being transported to another fantastical world. My hope is that a future Zelda game will reintroduce the Twili as an established race with meaningful culture and character interactions. What do you think? Do you want to see the Twili return in a future Zelda game? Let us know in the comments!
Feature art by Daphne Chanel
Michaela El-Ters is a Senior Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She is also an Senior Writer for Boss Rush Network, and writes blogs and streams games on Objection Network. Her favorite Zelda game changes with the seasons, but the series as a whole is near and dear to her heart.
