I personally hope it doesn't turn out to be a prequel because they complicate things even more.
Any specifics?
Two of the maidens made these references.
Quote from the third maiden:
Link, thanks to you, I was
able to escape the clutches of
the evil monsters. Thank you!
...Do you know the prophecy of
the Great Cataclysm?
This is the way I heard it...
If a person with an evil
heart gets the Triforce, a Hero
is destined to appear...
...and he alone must face the
person who unleashed the
Great Cataclysm.
If the evil one destroys the
Hero, nothing can save the
world from his wicked reign.
Only a member of the Knights
of Hyrule, who protected the
Hylian royalty, can become
the Hero... You are of their
bloodline, aren't you? Then
you must rescue
Zelda without fail!
Quote from the fourth maiden:
Link, thanks to you, I was
able to escape the clutches of
the evil monsters. Thank you!
As the sages sealed the way
to the Dark World, the Knights
of Hyrule defended them from
the attacks of evil monsters.
I heard that the Knights of
Hyrule were nearly wiped out in
that battle...
You are perhaps the last one
to carry on the bloodline of
those knights...
It's ironic that the last one in
the line has the potential to
become the Hero of legend.
Surely you can destroy Ganon!
Although it seems the maidens could be just referring to ALttP Link, however, if you really think about it,
how is ALttP Link connected to Knight's blood if the knights were pretty much dead towards the end of the Imprisoning War, let alone the last remaining knight, considering ALttP doesn't take place during the Imprisoning War since that war occurred centuries before ALttP? Let's take another look at the quote from the fourth maiden, shall we:
I heard that the Knights of
Hyrule were nearly wiped out in
that battle...
You are perhaps the last one
to carry on the bloodline of
those knights...
The fourth maiden mentions the knights were nearly taken out and that Link's blood is the last their kind. This is what leads me to believe that the only way this is possible is that all knights have died except one, the Hero (not ALttP Link). I believe that the quote from the fourth maiden is referring the fact that there was a Link incarnation who lived during the events of the Imprisoning War, during the last breath of the Hylian era. This past Link served his life as a hero just as his descendant, the ALttP Link has and fought against evil alongside with the Knights of Hyrule when he came of age to do so. Unfortunately, as the war met it's conclusion, the past Link's allies, his fellow other Knights of Hyrule were killed in battle, only him remaining to face whatever evil that remained before him. In defense of the sages, giving them time to finally seal the way to the Dark World, the past Link vanquished the remaining evil left to deal with.
I also believe that Nintendo originally had one of the legendary tales of the past Link planned for OoT back when it was just called "Zelda 64". More specifically, I think that was their plan at the they were in the early Alpha stage of "Zelda 64". If that's case and
if ALBW were take place in those times during the Imprisoning War, then that means, we almost got an N64 version of ALBW or a different story in the same era with the same Link only occurring afterwards, instead of OoT. Let's take a look at some of the screenshots of Zelda 64:
I wonder what is going on it that screenshot. Is Link in the Dark World or is in Hyrule Castle town in peril due to war. onto the next screen.
Okay, is it just me or does this look very reminiscent to ALttP much like ALBW is? Next screen.
Is that Triforce!? I wonder where Link found it. Dark World maybe? Next screen and semi-final screen.
Is that a soldier Link is fighting? Final screen.
Hmm, doesn't this setting look somewhat familiar. Where have I seen a area designed similar to this before?
Perhaps this answers that question?
Now let's look at some of things we've been seeing of ALBW:
With the Dark World confirmed, it's possible that the Triforce is still in the Dark World at that same altar that we've seen in ALttP and in the early stage of Zelda 64 (which in end came out to be OoT).
Link's Shield is that of Hylian Shield from OoT not the Hyrulean Shield from ALttP. Also, notice how the Hylian Shield in this artwork appears somewhat reminiscent to the shield from the early alpha stage of Zelda 64 seen here:
Only differences are that the Triforce symbol is smaller than what is seen in Early Alpha Zelda 64, the steel frame on the shield has more detail than it does in it's Early Alpha Zelda 64 counter-part, and last but not least, the sword in the shield's design is replaced with the red bird that always appears on Hylian Shield.
Also Link's Master Sword in the artwork is that of how it appears in OoT not ALttP.
ALBW uses the same game engine as OoT 3D, only except it is set to be overview perspective, the hearts and magic/stamina meter is on the top screen instead of the bottom, and there is no more map tab since the map is already on the bottom screen.
Plus the main overworld music is a mix between ALttP's and OoT's.
The tree near the Lumberjack's house is still in one piece.
And last but not least, the game is confirmed to be about a different generation of Link and Zelda.
There you have it, my speculation and comparisons to ALBW and Early Alpha Zelda 64. From the looks of it, I think that ALBW will probably be a re-imagined/re-created and an actual finished version of Early Alpha Zelda 64. Not only that but I really do think the game will end up taking place before ALttP during the Imprisoning War, like I said.
Anyways, that is all I have to say for now, I am tired. :tired: