So! I watched all of the Age of Calamity cutscenes that were released, and...I have a lot of thoughts. Mainly, Iām not happy with the story.
Probably my biggest thing is that I feel like they really messed up some characterizations for Link, Zelda, and Revali because of changing the core backstory.Ā
Why does Revali dislike Link from the get go??? Why DOES Link did get be part of this whole deal when Zelda has other guards around her this whole time?Ā Ā
Zelda somehow had more screen time and yet LESS character development in this version because they took away two of her biggest growth moments: overcoming her jealousy/self-absorption and losing everything to then go on and SAVE everything. I liked that they had her working on tech since childhood, but did her mom not still die when she was 6?? āMe and mother discussed this at lengthā GIRL YOU WERE SIX. Also, where is Zeldaās confirmed composure even as a child? Sheās crying and pulling on her fathers coat when he takes away the guardian, which is realistic for a child but NOT for one who didnāt even cry at her mothers FUNERAL.Ā
Why does Link not talk if he doesnāt have the weight of the sword on him since childhood? Where is HIS struggle in meeting expectations when thereās no expectations on him save for doing the basic duties of a solider?Ā Where are the eyes that are all upon him? Thereās none, because heās no longer singled out. Heās just another solider.Ā
I donāt see WHY they needed to change Links backstory. Let him start off with the sword that seals the darkness and keep the game mechanics the same! Or have some BS about the sword that seals the darkness being saved for Calamity Ganon and nothing else. By changing HIS backstory, thereās such a domino effect! Zelda isnāt the same character, Link isnāt the same character, Revali has no reason to even give Link a GLANCE let alone be rivals with him.Ā
Iām fine(ish) with an alternate ending. But this isnāt an alternative ending. This is an alternative EVERYTHING. There were moments that I liked in AOC, but they could have been done without smudging the character development/arcs that BOTW already established. Sigh.Ā
Iām glad I watched the cutscenes because honestly, this would have made me upset if I had dropped money on this. Oh, well.Ā