Link can’t speak, making Zelda the emotional core of a story in desperate need of one. Our protagonist can only stop and stare, providing the occasional nod or grunt to ensure he is with Zelda regardless of whatever circumstances might greet them. Given that so many of Breath of the Wild’s strongest moments are fragmented flashbacks and snapshots of Link’s own memories, it told a wonderfully coherent story of bittersweet heroism. Sacrifices are required to save the world, and Zelda is fully aware of the need to step forward and face the music even if it means giving herself up. She does this, but Link is able to save her, and Breath of the Wild 2 should explore their new lives and the inevitable threat that has the potential to wipe them out once ag

However, the recent gameplay trailer has me concerned about Princess Zelda’s exact role in the story, and whether she will once again act as a passive heroine who finds herself trapped in Hyrule Castle until Link can muster up the power to save her. Breath of the Wild saw Link venturing into Hyrule Castle to rescue Zelda, who had been holding the evil of Calamity Canon at bay for zonai Construct theories 100 years. Her power was fading, and she required Link’s help to prevent her kingdom from falling into an inescapable state of r

Princess Zelda is sporting a new haircut in Breath of the Wild 2 , which seemingly isn’t a subtle hint that she’ll end up as a playable heroine in the upcoming sequel. Instead, it’s a new look for a main character who has saved her kingdom, witnessed the loss of countless loved ones, and managed to survive and continue with a life she’s afraid isn’t deserved.

Female characters parting with their hair has been a deliberate sign of growing maturity in media for decades, a changed appearance highlighting that women are willing to leave behind everything in service of something greater. Mulan is the most popular example, with the titular character cutting her gorgeous hair to join the army and assist her ignorant father. It's the opposite of Zelda’s situation - instead of pulling herself away from the royal family, Mulan is doing everything she can to preserve it. But the core motivation remains the same: these are two women who realise a sacrifice must be made, even if it means altering their appearance and walking away from a life of security.

Antarctica makes for an interesting change of pace during the backhalf, but _ Code Veronica _ is so disconnected from any personal infection or outbreak that it lacks the human touch found in the settings of the original ga

Breath of the Wild tells an achingly human tale, but to uncover it you’ll need to invest dozens of hours into scouring Hyrule in search of brief cutscenes that chronicle Link and Zelda’s doomed pilgrimage in search of allies. None of the flashbacks are told with any sense of chronology, so you’ll stumble across them randomly and be forced to work out exactly what is going on and how it factors into the overall adventure. This mirrors Link’s own amnesia, so it feels like we’ve truly been placed in his shoes, trying to work out how our friends were lost and what we can do to save whatever it is they left behind.

Considering just how long it took for Capcom to develop _ Resident Evil 2 _ ’s remake, it was something of a surprise when the company announced that _ Resident Evil 3 _ ’s remake was in active development. What was more surprising, though, was the reveal that a _ Resident Evil 4 _ remake is underway. This has concerned fans for two reasons: the first being _ RE4 _ ’s already stellar reputation and the second the fact that Capcom is skipping an entire g

That said, why actually bother? Umbrella’s downfall happens in a spin-off game and not even Capcom was all that interested in telling this story. By _ Code Veronica _ , it’s clear the series wanted to move on from Umbrella. Come _ Resident Evil 5 _ , Wesker’s more or less taken over as the face of the antagonists. Keeping in mind how much extra focus antagonists like Birkin and Nikolai were given in their remakes, it’s perhaps safe to assume that _ RE _ wants a face for their villains, not just a societal concept. It’s a bit disappointing considering how critical _ Resident Evil _ is of big pharma and capitalism, otherw

While the original Resident Evil 2 and 3 are fairly similar games, Resident Evil 4 is an action-oriented title with a faster pace than its predecessors. This variation in source material means that the Resident Evil remake series is likely pushing into new territory, leading to debate on what should and should not be changed from the original g

However, I think the first game was a stark indicator that this isn’t a company playing by the rules anymore. Knowing this, I’m hopeful Breath of the Wild 2 will be the most narrative-heavy Zelda game we’ve ever seen, perhaps even superseding Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess with the amount of dialogue it’s willing to subject us to. As long as it’s in service of a wonderful story, I’m more than happy to sit back and sink in.