This feature contains hints at story outcomes in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
When I first stepped I stepped into Tears of the Kingdom, my adoration for Princess Zelda immediately resurfaced. It's the same feeling I have every time I embark on a Zelda adventure, always holding Zelda's character in higher regard compared to Link, the supposed protagonist of the series.
When I accompanied Zelda as Link during the prologue, I felt really captivated by her fervent discussions about archaeology and Hyrule's history. My affection also deepened as I witnessed the poignant recollections of her past. and as I completed the epic main story quest alongside my newfound sage companions, I experienced a genuine sense of fulfillment and joy for her happy ending, and not as much for Link’s success (though I get how both those things are intertwined).
I began to think about why I felt this way, and came to the conclusion that Zelda's character is, quite simply, more interesting. The hardships she goes through evoke more emotional catharsis in me, as opposed to the stereotypically silent, white knight-ish persona of Link. It was at this point that I began to wonder why I wasn't playing as Zelda herself instead of Link.
It's not a sentiment exclusive to Tears of the Kingdom either. I've felt this way ever since Breath of the Wild, where Zelda's memories revealed her deep sorrow and frustration as she struggled with her inability to wield the power of the Master Sword and serve her kingdom like Link. And in Tears of the Kingdom, this anguish drives Zelda to go to even greater lengths, to the extent of sacrificing herself and assuming the eternal form of an immortal dragon to safeguard the Master Sword for Link and all of Hyrule's future.
Zelda endures immense suffering throughout these two games (and many previous Zelda titles), yet we are never given the opportunity to delve into her thoughts or fully empathize with the pain she endures. Instead, we observe silently as Link takes center stage, always carrying out the missions she bestows upon him with single-minded simplistic zeal, but always in lukewarm silence (which is the total opposite of how my heart screams for her sake with every new game).
Even in terms of gameplay, having Zelda as a playable character has tremendous untapped potential. She's the mortal incarnation of the goddess Hylia (the protector of Hyrule). She's also the Sage of Time and has the ability to manipulate time as she wishes. In addition, she has shown off her skills with bows, light arrows, and even healing and telepathic abilities in games like Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, so maybe we could have dungeons that operate in both the past and the present (like that new Portal mod), or perhaps we could have branching storylines depending on her choices across time. But the point is, there are countless aspects that define Zelda as a unique character beyond her role as Link's damsel in distress.
Having Zelda as a main focus in the story is not essential to establishing a Legend of Zelda game, as we've seen in the likes of Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Link's Awakening. However, like an elusive term we call the "Present Absent" in Arabic, Zelda's limited involvement only increases my longing for her appearance. In fact, Wind Waker's Tetra offers my favorite twist on Zelda's character, who’s introduced as an unknown pirate only to later reveal her true identity as Princess Zelda herself, unaware of her own heritage yet acting upon her duties.
Having Midna and Zelda’s roles overlap as the Twilight Princesses (even fusing them together at one point) wasn’t so bad either. It added another layer to Zelda's role as the Princess of Light. These different interpretations of Zelda's character are enough to prove she has enough depth to give the creators room to experiment and tug at our heartstrings, something Link hasn't shown throughout the series in any meaningful capacity.
I believe we are in an age where princesses don’t need to be saved anymore, nor do I think Zelda is lacking in anything to warrant her being saved, except the fact that she can’t utilize the Master Sword. So why doesn't Nintendo give her a chance to take hold of her own future and wield the Master Sword for once? No one deserves that honor more than her in all of Hyrule.