Who’s Who in Hyrule Pt. 1

We have less than 24 hours until The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrives and we couldn’t be more excited. With some exciting new features and faces, fans all around the world are waiting to see what’s next for Link and Zelda.

But while we had a hint towards some new characters, there was also a glimpse at some familiar faces. So, who are these characters? Where do they come from? And what will their role be in the new game?

Champions of Hyrule

The idea of friendship and helping those who need it have always been an essential part of the Zelda series. And the third trailer for Tears of the Kingdom promises that this theme of friendship will be just as important.

While we don’t know anything about the storyline for Tears of the Kingdom, it’s clear that some of the friends Link made in his journey will be making a comeback. The quick scenes of Link fighting side by side with some of our favourites give us a small hint at how they’ll be included in the game.

After the encounters with the spirits of the four champions in Breath of the Wild, it would seem logical that their descendants take up that title. While this isn’t fully confirmed, it seems pretty likely and opens up a whole world of possibilities within the game.

Tulin and the Rito

The first familiar face we see is that of Tulin. In Breath of the Wild, he was a fledgling Rito who just wanted to play. And maybe be a hero like his dad. He played a small part in helping you progress and also has a fun little mini-game for target practice. In the trailer, however, Tulin seems to be a little more grown up and appears to be a skilled archer himself.

Will he be able to use Rivali’s Gale? And where is his dad, Teba? It will be exciting to see how this young warrior has grown up and how his character has developed. But considering the link between the sky and Hyrule, he might play quite a big part in the story.

But who are the Rito? Their first appearance in a Zelda game was in The Wind Waker (2003), although they were a little different then. Originally, they were a little more human-like, with a mix of both human and bird features. They had human hands with wings that look more like sleeves when not in use. They had a bird’s beak instead of a nose, with a human mouth beneath it. Rito aren’t born with the ability to fly but must climb a mountain and retrieve a scale. Once they’ve done this, they’ll be able to fly a vast distance and are reliable postal workers.

In The Wind Waker, we learn that after the Great Flood the unnatural water became uninhabitable for the Zora. The Zora then made their way to Dragon Roost Island and, over time, evolved into the Rito. This could be why the wings of the Rito are fairly similar to the fins of the Zora.

By the time they make their next appearance in Breath of the Wild, they’re quite different. Now they’re more bird-like, covered in feathers and a change to the Wind Waker characters. It’s hard to say if these Rito share the same backstory, as there are Zora in the game. No mention is made of their history or any links to the Zora, so we don’t know if they’re still connected.

They’re expert flyers and highly skilled archers who now reside within the snow-peaked Tabantha Frontier region of Hebra. The Rito also have a proud group of warriors within their community. They’re incredibly skilled aerial fighters, who have perfected the art of aerial combat and archery.

The Rito may be a later addition to Zelda lore, but they’ve quickly become an integral part. They add an extra dimension to the games and open up more of the world. And now that Link is taking to the skies, they might bean even bigger part.

Prince Sidon and the Zora

Next up is everyone’s favourite fishy friend, Prince Sidon. A young prince who is courageous, bold, and adored by all. When you first make your way to Zora’s Domain, you’ll meet him at Inogo Bridge. He’s on the hunt for a Hylian warrior who can help him and his people. The Divine Beast Vah Ruta is causing heavy rains that threaten to break the dams surrounding the domain. But, to fix the problem, they need to use electric arrows. This is an issue as electricity is lethal to Zora.

Luckily for them though, Link isn’t as susceptible to electric shocks, and he takes on the challenge. After some help from Sidon in getting to the Divine Beast, Sidon becomes a close and trusted friend. One that you’ve known before, but when he was much younger. In one of the flashbacks, you find out that Link and Mipha were very close, and Sidon was there too!

In the most recent trailer, we get to see Sidon helping Link in combat. So we’re hoping this means that you get to have more interaction with him throughout the game.

Much like the Rito, the Zora are a well-loved group from the Zelda franchise. The first time we see any type of Zora is in the very first game, however, they’re slightly different to our aquatic acquaintances now. Originally, the River Zora were hostile enemies who would hide in rivers and spit fireballs at you. Then, in Ocarina of Time, we met the Sea Zora, a friendly race in need of help.

Unlike Rito, women of the Zora are just as skilled and capable at fighting and you will often come across female guards whenever you visit them. Their history is very important to them, and due to them not travelling far from their watery homes, they are a little separated from the different groups who live beside them. They take a lot of pride in their history, laws and leadership, and many pledge their allegiance to a Zora royal family. They also have incredibly long lifespans, though we don’t know for sure how long they can live.

Zora women from the royal family have historically held an important role in the games. Sometimes, they protect Hyrule as a Sage. Other times, they protect the Spiritual Stone of Water. Recently, Lady Mipha protected Hyrula as the Zora Champion. Her pure heart and willingness to help endeared her to her people. The love people had for her, and the love she so clearly held for Link makes her story a particularly tragic one.

The Zora have become an important part of the Zelda franchise, and to have a game without them at least mentioned would seem strange. Now, we’re on a new path with Sidon leading the way for Zora. And, with the potential he’s taken on the role of King, it will be interesting to see what has happened to him in the time since Breath of the Wild, where it will go, and what we can do with him during Tears of the Kingdom.

Dawn of the Final Day

When Breath of the Wild was released, it changed Zelda forever. It was an open-world game with a huge map, incredible abilities, and so much to do that you can keep playing the game and never get bored. Everything we’ve seen about Tears of The Kingdom promises to not only continue this new path for the series but add to it in a new and exciting way.

But Zora and Rito aren’t the only familiar faces we saw in the trailer. There are still a couple of famous heroes and groups to go through, so be sure to check back for the second part of Who’s Who in Hyrule later today.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is released worldwide on Friday 12th May.