While Legend of Zelda fans had been hoping to see the release for the Breath of the Wild sequel sooner rather than later, the September 2022 Nintendo Direct has revealed that won't happen. The game, given the official title of Tears of the Kingdom, will drop for the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.

While few specifics can be assumed from the short clips of gameplay that Nintendo shared, fans of the franchise know some of what to expect. No matter which incarnation of Link a game features, he is always the silent, determined hero, equipped with his famous weapon, the Master Sword. Link is one of Nintendo's most iconic heroes, so of course he's the subject of some hysterical memes.

What makes the Legend of Zelda games so unique is the vastly different art styles used from game to game. Titles like Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild use a more realistic design for its sceneries and characters, while Wind Waker and Spirit Tracks have the toon style that some audiences prefer.

While there seems to be little rhyme or reason behind what titles receive which art style, it does help differentiate the different versions of Link in the Legend of Zelda games. However, as certain designs trend over different decades, it leaves fans wondering: how will Hyrule's hero look next?

Since The Legend of Zelda was first released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, people have been mixing up the central characters' names. Given the franchise title, it makes sense that the playable character would also be the titular character, but that is, of course, not true.

Fans repeatedly remind casual players of the hero's name, but there will always be those that refer to him as Zelda. This has led to a sort of inside joke within the fandom: His name is Link, for crying out loud.

Mario Kart Is Canon, Right?

Zelda fans rejoiced when Link became a playable character in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This included a variety of items and Kart options themed from the games, with a course even set in the Kingdom of Hyrule itself.

Of course, given Link's strong-and-silent-like demeanor, it's hard to imagine him taking part in extreme racing when Hyrule was waiting to be saved. However, if these events were a canon part of the Breath of the Wild character, it's fun to think that it took place on another plane of existence during his long snooze.

A Man Of Few Words

There is a tradition in the Zelda games: Link doesn't talk. It has long been thought that this was so players could project their own ideas of Link's personality onto the character. But, no matter the reason, it's a golden standard for any title within the franchise.

However, that doesn't mean that Link isn't vocal. Fans are familiar with his exclamations while battling, taking damage, or falling off a very high cliff. Link may be a hero of very few words, but his "quotes" are iconic nonetheless.

The Hero Of Minigames And Side Quests

There can be no question, Link is dedicated to saving Princess Zelda and the Kingdom of Hyrule. So dedicated, in fact, that his soul continues to be reincarnated again and again to repeatedly save her over (potentially) thousands of years.

However, in players' hands, Link may take a few detours here and there. Thanks to Breath of the Wild's open world concept, there are just far too many side quests and minigames to entertain oneself with to go directly to save Zelda first thing. Even the ancient hero deserves to have fun and do some Sand Seal surfing from time to time.

Saving The World Can Wait

Hyrule has always been a kingdom full of interesting items to find, and Breath of the Wild increased this substantially with its open-world format. The never-ending mountainous regions provide ample opportunity to smash some rocks and collect precious stones that can be used for various benefits.

Link can use these gems for anything from selling for profit to updating clothing and other items. The best part is, he doesn't even need any specific tools to collect valuable stones. Link's fancy blade, the Master Sword, specifically designed to smite evil in Hyrule, can also double as an indestructible pickaxe.

In the original Legend of Zelda game, Link had fairly simple controls and abilities. He could walk around, and he could stab with his sword. As the games evolved, so did Links skills. By Ocarina of Time, he could do backflips, rolls, and a variety of special attacks. However, Link still could not jump on command.

This changed in Breath of the Wild when players could finally jump when they wanted to, instead of only being able to run full force at a ledge and hope that everything works out. It may seem like a small achievement, but die-hard fans couldn't have been happier for their hero, Link.

Another fun feature of the Zelda games is the variety of monsters and bosses that Link has to face off against. From floating hands playing drums to creepy sea snakes, there is never any telling who Link will have to fight in the next temple.

However, despite this variety, there seems to be a trend regarding how these beasts must be taken down. In the end, if a boss has a giant eye surrounded by otherwise impenetrable armor or skin, Link always knows precisely where to aim.

Maybe It's Worth A Couple Hearts At Least

While health potions have always been a feature of the Zelda games, Breath of the Wild introduced the option for players to make them themselves for the first time, as well as a never-ending variety of food items and meals. Not only is it an option, but the game provides virtually no limit on what can be cooked or eaten.

This allows Link to openly experiment with food. Mysterious fruit from a fallen tree? Eat it. The creepy ever-staring eye of a felled beast? Why not? Ultimately, the outcome may not always be the best, but if it even seems slightly edible, Link will give it a try.

Of the many innovative mechanics that Breath of the Wild introduced, the fragility of weapons is among the most frustrating. In past titles, a set and minimal number of weapons could be used. However, once Link had possession of them, they were good for the game's duration.

This is not the case for Breath of the Wild, where weapons can not only break, but they will break at a frustratingly fast rate. Of course, this does allow for a virtually unlimited variety of swords, axes, spears, and bows for players to find. However, with how quickly they shatter, it's a wonder that Link (and players) hadn't pulled out all their hair by the time the credits rolled.

NEXT: 10 Best Action Adventure Games To Play Before The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild 2 Is Released