Nearly eight years following its release, it's hard to deny just how much The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild improved and expanded on the series as a whole. From the emphasis on exploration and player freedom, to the gorgeous cel-shaded art style, there are many factors that BOTW manages to do better than many of its predecessors. One particular area in which BOTW does better than previous entries is with the characterization of the titular character herself, Princess Zelda.

BOTW's narrative is far from the highlight of the game. Its story is bare-bones and loosely strung together, likely done in order to keep the player focused on the expansive open world that desperately wants to be explored. However, while the story itself may not be a highlight, Zelda's personal journey within that narrative certainly is. In fact, through her characterization and impact on the overall game, BOTW is arguably home to the best iteration of Zelda to date.

Zelda's Journey In BOTW Was Relatable

Players Could Relate To The Princess's Personal Struggles

The reason why BOTW has the best version of Zelda is in large part due to her relatability. Through BOTW's memory flashbacks, the player watches Zelda as she consistently struggles to fulfill her role as a princess, as well as the destiny that's been placed upon her as a descendant of the Goddess Hylia. Throughout BOTW's story, Zelda gets into conflict with both Link and her father, King Rhoam, as she feels unfit for the role that has been bestowed upon her.

It's this internal struggle Zelda faces throughout BOTW's narrative that allows the player to easily resonate with the princess. Zelda's conflict between the nerdy, independent person she is and the powerful, steadfast leader Hyrule needs her to be can be empathized with by an audience who have likely wrestled with their own unrealistic expectations put upon them by others. It's this human element that gives Zelda her relatability in BOTW, allowing the player to connect with the princess beyond her royal status.

That connection BOTW establishes between the player and Zelda helps to make the princess's more vulnerable moments all the more powerful. Witnessing Zelda wrestle with her initial failure to stop Calamity Ganon becomes emotional for the player as they have witnessed her long, arduous journey to this moment. These themes of expectations, destiny, and heritage that this version of Zelda evokes result in a complex and compelling character far beyond what players may have seen previously, and help to elevate BOTW's otherwise lackluster story.

BOTW Placed A Bigger Emphasis On Zelda's Role

The Game Gave Zelda More To Within The Main Narrative

BOTW's portrayal of Zelda also exceeds the quality of other titles due to the importance of the princess's role in the game's greater conflict. While the Zelda series has always made the princess's major role clear, many titles fail to reflect this in their own stories. Titles such as The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are infamous examples, relegating Zelda to the sidelines partway through the story, only for her to reappear in the final moments to help deliver the final blow to Ganondorf. While not all Zelda entries follow this pattern, it is a common trend among certain titles.

BOTW's version of Zelda is not only given more to do within the main narrative, but the significance of her role and hidden powers are emphasized throughout. During BOTW's cutscenes and numerous character interactions, the player quickly develops a firm understanding of the importance of Zelda's role in saving Hyrule, and how her power is the key to defeating Calamity Ganon. BOTW contrasts with previous Zelda entries as it never loses sight of the significance of the princess's role, putting her on a similar level as Link.

Not everything about BOTW's take on Zelda helps to elicit this importance. The game unfortunately continues the redundant damsel-in-distress trope that has consistently limited Zelda's potential throughout the series. Even if she is helping to keep Calamity Ganon from wreaking havoc, the player still needs to help release Zelda before she delivers the final blow, undermining the role that BOTW spent so long emphasizing. However, BOTW is certainly a step in the right direction for Zelda's characterization, ensuring the princess is given the spotlight she deserves.

How Future Zelda Entries Can Learn From BOTW

BOTW Is Only The Beginning

The strides taken in BOTW towards Zelda's portrayal demonstrate the key areas in which future entries should continue to expand upon. As the title character of the series, Zelda should always be granted the courtesy of having a vital role in each entry's narrative. The inclusion of more complex characterization and more significance throughout the story is not only a benefit for the character, but it elevates the story of Zelda games as a whole.

Luckily, recent entries in the Zelda series are on the right track. Tears of the Kingdom, being a direct sequel to BOTW, perfectly continues Zelda's narrative established while improving on its predecessor's shortcomings. While Zelda maintains that vulnerable side to her character that made the princess so easy to connect with, she also plays a bigger role in the fight against Ganondorf. Her actions in the past have a direct effect on the player's own journey in the present, foregoing the damsel-in-distress trope that limited the princess in BOTW, and further solidifying Zelda's importance in saving Hyrule.

Echoes of Wisdom is also a major step for Zelda, being the series' first mainline game to feature her as the playable character.

BOTW's incredible portrayal of Princess Zelda holds promise for what players can expect out of the beloved character in future games. If the series continues to build on what BOTW has established, then Zelda will only continue to grow and flourish into the character she was always meant to be. For now, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's own interpretation of Zelda remains the series' best offering to date, giving the princess the role she has always deserved.