I accidentally referred to Ganondorf as Ganon at one point. Take my gamer card.

I haven’t watched yet but I wanna be clear. I will tolerate exactly 0 Midna slander.

I actually really liked Navi when i was a child. She gave me the feeling that I'm not alone in this world. The fact that she flew to intresting stuff, made me only think that she had her own character and we would discover the world as a team.

Look- I know the manga isn’t canon. But I like what they did with Navi at the end. Instead of her just leaving without a word at the end, she said her goodbyes and expressed how she grew to love Link. What started out as a her coming along because she HAD to, became that she accompanied Link on his journey because she WANTED to. I think that’s really sweet^^

Midna is the gold standard. Not only is she an excellent character, she lends character depth to Link through their interactions. What little emotion Link shows, he does it during his exchanges with her. You can't get much better than that.

Midna alone has made all of the other annoying companions worth it.

Fun fact about Navi's "Listen!" voice line in the 3DS remaster (idk if it was like this in the original version): if you are underwater and Navi says "Listen!" she will sound muffled. I always thought that was pretty cool.

Linebeck was an amazing companion, he literally carries the game alone, and without him, the game would feel more hollow

Honestly Zelda in Spirit Tracks is my favourite companion in the series. I absolutely I adore how they made Zelda such a core character to the story and gameplay, with a very enjoyable character arc. The final fight where she fights alongside Link and even drives the sword into the demon king's head feels like such a great way to end the game because both Link and Zelda worked together to achieve this the entire way, definitely a very nice way to go with Zelda's character for a change.

30+ minute Raz video, hell yeah

One interesting thing about Midna is that she is useful without being patronizing. I still remember when I got stuck in the lakebed temple, I asked for help and the way her dialogue was written not only felt like it was usefull but it also felt less like a hint and more like an intervention, like she was trying to figure it out as much as I was, felt like a true companion.

Was really hoping Rauru's spirit would follow Link through his arm in TotK

Personally, my thought is that you should have a companion. But they shouldn't be a glorified tutorial provider, they should be a friend who talks to you and keeps you from being alone.

Personally, Linebeck is my favourite companion in the series. He's very expressive and has quite a subversive personality compared to the typically headstrong and confident companions. I love how he's something of a foil to Link, a selfish, cowardly adult who lets a selfless, courageous child fight his battles for him. He and Ciela have an interesting dynamic too, and by the end I love that despite clearly being scared, he attempts to stop Bellum to save Link. It gives making him the final boss all the more emotional weight too. As for whether or not the series should remove companions, I'm onboard with a mix of companion games and companionless games. The concept is certainly a fun one, but they aren't necessary for every game.

Am I only person that wants a game where we get Navi back? I mean in Majora's mask Link was on his way to find her, and i think her sudden leave kinda felt sad.

Now that TOTK has released I hope we get a sequel on how it handled companions. The 4 major characters that assist in dungeons and in the overworld afterwards; Sidon, Riju, Tulin, and Yunobo; all have their own independent character arcs that are explored, aid Link in Unique ways, and are a physical presence like Ghost Zelda as opposed to something that can be turned into a system like Navi. While the fact that splitting the focus among 4 different side characters means that they don’t have too much screen time as characters and aren’t allowed to be fully fleshed out in this game alone; all of the main 4 were in BOTW and had characterization there that was expanded on here. What makes them work especially well in TOTK is that they’re technically optional. If you were suicidal enough and did some shenanigans you could probably face Ganondorf in 30 minutes with 3 hearts and a dream; but you can CHOOSE to interact with them, and for a game that’s all about choice that is HUGE.

I feel like there's an aspect of Fi that many players forget because they're gamers already, let's not forget that the Wii was one of the most broadly marketed consoles of all time. Grandparents were playing videogames for their first time on that console. The console had a huge number of first time gamers playing; people who not only haven't played games but haven't even held a controller in their hands before. And not only that but these people were already adults. Teaching a kid something new is one thing but teaching someone in their 50s or 60s potentially with an early Alzheimer's condition is very hard by comparison. Fi was necessary because the console had a huge number of first time players who needed the help. Like Raz said in the video, she was a step back towards Navi but not without reason. I think she was ultimately a very successful companion in this respect, lending a tutorial to those who saw how much fun their kids and grandkids were having and wanted to have some fun on their own.

I'm still really disappointed by missed potential with Fi. This is the SPIRIT of the MASTERSWORD, the blade of evil's bane! How great would it have been if she had started out as cold and analytical but over the course of her journey she slowly stopped being an emotionless automaton and gained a sense of justice and desire to protect the weak and defeat evil? Really show why those who use dark powers cannot wield her and why she's the one blade that can cut through the darkness. Such a missed opportunity.

Ezlo is still my favorite, such a fun character who actively helps link throughout his journey without being annoying or interrupting

Honestly I miss having a companion, I think the problem is the interruptions. In Tears Of The Kingdom a certain ghost shows up in certain spots. They reminisce about their life and lament the state of things. I really hoped that they would keep doing so. I loved spotting their ghostly visage and would make a bee line for them. Even if what they told me wasn't important to what I was doing. Shame they didn't stick around

Having a character to accompany you with your journey? Hell yeah. Having a glorified tutorial follow you around? Maybe not needed anymore.

Fun Fact: Link's quest logs were written in first-person in the japanese version of BOTW I wish we had gotten that in our translation. It really emphasizes that he was a more self-reliant link (edit: Replies have informed me that the Japanese version doesn't actually use any personal pronouns at all, and in English would be comparable to a passive tone; I guess I was misinformed. If you want more details I suggest reading the reply in this comment thread by Kirian Guiller)

When you’re the only character to journey with Link across multiple incarnations, yet you don’t get mentioned once in a 32 minute video about Zelda companions: “Neigh that translates to “Years of horseback training wasted!””

Lineback, like Phantom Hourglass, was honestly very underrated. He had a pretty solid character arc, was a good foil for Ciela and without him, the story literally couldn’t progress.

I never saw the King of Red Lions as a companion in Wind Waker, although I suppose technically he is. He really struck me more as a side character that moved the story along much like Tetra was. I like that when you’re on land he doesn’t really guide you at all :)

As a teenager, first playing OoT, I didn't mind Navi When I play it now, she's a little annoying because she breaks one golden rule of video games, and forces the player into dialogue with her. Also, I never thought about it - but in phantom hourglass, isn't link technically your companion because the cursor is the fairy? 🤔

Honestly Purah could've made a good companion for BOTW. Since Nintendo already went all in with the iPad design, she could easily have been radioing you or monitoring you from the other side using the slate. She also already has a solid backstory and a good connection to the ancient technology setting, being a researcher.

While literally every mechanical point you make about Fi is true, I cried when she 'died'. The music in that scene is unbelievably emotional.

I love companion characters. Given Link's role as a silent protagonist they function as a means of showing an in-universe reaction to the events of the story. I also generally find the "they're so annoying" bit to be overblown.

Dude I want another companion as good as Midna or spirit Zelda. I severely doubt a companion will be in BotW 2, but hopefully in the future a really well-designed and likable companion will come back to the franchise.

Man, even though I agree with the whole lack of character arc and meaningful impact of Navi, it just made me somewhat sad and like her more because of one thing: she left Link. We see Link make friends and despite parting ways at the end of each story, they have bonded and in a sense they’ll always be together. Navi does not. She had a mission, she fulfilled it and she just move on because she’s not needed anymore, as if she has her own life without involving Link. It’s a cold, distant thought yet strangely charming and real.

God, I wish we could get a full-on Final Fantasy 7 Remake-style remake of Ocarina of Time someday. I've always had a soft spot for the kind of characters I'd imagine Link and Navi to be, and I'd love to see a reimagined, fleshed-out dynamic between them, where Link is at first a shy, shaky kid from growing up an outcast for not having a fairy, latching onto Navi immediately as a friend and mother figure, and Navi starts off as doubting the meek young Link as a hero and maybe even annoyed and frustrated with needing to support him. Having her functioning as his "mouthpiece" when he needs to communicate with people could be really interesting, too

The only time Link has had anything close to a character arc is Skyward Sword. In the first couple hours he's characterized as someone who is kind hearted but very lazy and has his head in the clouds, he just has a lot of raw natural talent. As soon as Zelda gets taken he's upset and then gains the means to chase after her and become the courageous hero. Aaaand then that's it

Companions are more annoying once you're familiar with the game. Like a 2nd play through. But I don't mind them too much. I think they add a lot. I loved the moment in Ocarina of Time when Navi was able to help you fight Ganon after Ganondorf used some kind of dark magic to keep her away from the 1st fight

One thing I liked about Midna was that when you needed a hint where to go, she doesn’t tell you directly. For example, when you’re trying to find the mirror for the first time and ask for a hint, she says something like: “I honestly don’t know where the mirror is. Maybe try asking around or something?” And this leads you to think about the Hyrule Resistance members, who you need to help you.

I think the character development of Tatl which is only really shown by how sarcastic her enemy descriptions are for early foes is a subtle way to do story telling it's all completely optional dialogue yet it is compelling and feels organic.

Linebeck is actually tied with Midna for me because of his connection to the story and his own character arc throughout the story. His final wish hit just was hard as Midna's farewell for me

I think we just don't have enough case studies of modern Zelda games without companions to properly answer that question. I'd say most Zelda games don't suffer or benefit from a companion, it's just a tradition. In Breath of the Wild's case, Link being alone in a sense is integral to the atmosphere and it works because of the non-linear structure as well as a lack of story. Then again, classic-style Zelda's like A Link Between Worlds only ever needed NPC's to guide Link along, but with more grandiose stories featuring bigger worlds like Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, companions are there to not only serve but influence the story, leading to some of the most memorable and heartfelt moments of the series. They're companions for a reason; they're not tools like Navi or dollar-store Cortana like Fi, they're as integral to the plot and themes as the Triforce-users themselves.

This is a weird recommendation but I remember Nico B's Let's play of breath of the wild where after he Met the king ghost he started pretending link absorbed the ghost and had the king as a voice in links head essentially giving him a companion who constantly annoyed him and when he got the other ghosts they Joined until he had like 5 voices in his head all arguing with him it was hilarious. Honestly that just tells me the solution to companions interrupting gameplay is just have voiceovers that don't interrupt gameplay.

This video made me think again how most of the players say BotW feels lonely, yet I never got that feeling. For me, the Zelda that invokes loneliness the most is actually Twilight Princess, even though, and maybe partly *because* of Midna. For me, BotW feels calm and serene, save for the guardian encounters. The bad things that happened happened so far in the past, that the game loses the sense of urgency, like things have waited for 100 years, they can wait a bit longer. Also, because Link has amnesia and, frankly, is the blankest slate of 3D Links, it feels like he has no personal connection to whatever is happening, even though he very much does, it just doesn't *show*, really. In contrast, Twilight Princess's problems are happening here and now, and Link has personal agenda of trying to save his friends and world. Yes, you have constant companion in Midna, but as Razbuten said, she doesn't care about Hyrule and it's people, or Link, at first. It really does feel everything rests on Link's shoulders alone, at least for a good while. Also, a lot of this is certainly affected by my experience of loneliness, and that it's at it's worst when you are not alone, but surrounded by people who don't understand, support, or like you. (Disclaimer: this is not critique on Midna, she is easily my favourite Zelda companion and I love her a lot. Or BotW, I like the game a lot too.)

Might be my adhd, but i usually just tuned out the companion characters whenever they did something that everybody considers “annoying”. That being said, i’m very fond of all of them including fi

Appreciate the Linebeck coverage. Dude gets too little love. It's a good, albeit simple arc!

Linebeck and Ghost-Zelda are definitely my favorite companions, Tatl coming in at third, but Fi is really endearing because I thought of her like a Phone app like Siri, Cortana, or whatever the hell; She's trying her hardest in her own way, it might get annoying but it's what she was made to do, I'm looking forward to BoTW2 specifically because of the little teaser at the end of the Master Trials. Aside from that, I think BoTW did implement companions well. You get one leading up to the dungeon, and afterwards, the spirit of a friend assist you to a degree; I genuinely wish they commented on combat when you were fighting against Calamity Ganon, but hearing Revali, Urbosa, Daruk and Mipha cheering me on during a fight, despite the small interactions made me want to win more than a lot of circumstances have in games before, usually depending on the Genre I'm worried about surviving for different reasons, Character Action games make me want to succeed because I KNOW the characters are badasses and wouldn't get ragdolled in a fight, Skyward Sword made me want to survive every encounter because Skyward Sword Link, despite being shown to be a sleepy head of the highest degree, is the only Link who struggles to get back up before finally succumbing to his wounds. Breath of the Wild Link makes me feel the same type of way, but because he DOESN'T have a Low HP animation like the others, he just flashes red to indicate he has low Health, while the others would be slouching, struggling to breathe and so on, He just kind of keeps on trucking, it's kind of heartbreaking to die in the game for me just because you don't see any of his personality or character when he does he down, he's just down- So when I'm fighting these Blights that took out the other Champions, and they're worrying about his health, and trying to give him advice, It feels great. It's only for small segments sure, but BoTW's limited companions, do feel good to have around, just like how the others all serve a purpose, Link definitely wouldn't have reached any of the Divine Beast without their help, at least in universe considering glitches let you get damn close; But the main point of this was that I feel like BoTW definitely did those segments right, I would've personally preferred the segments before the dungeons to be more hands on, to let us get to know the Champions 'Descendants' better, If they had been done kind of like Sidon and Yunobo, things would've been fine, Riju makes sense in context, but it also would've been cool to have to move through a sandstorm with her to infiltrate the Yiga base, I think Teba is definitely the worst offender though, the buildup leading into Medoh is hardly there, and it's pretty noticeable. Having to create slight railroads to the areas under the hopes the player enters there and not from another place would probably hurt the experience, but if they had left the character at a spot that would've been the most 'easy' to enter from, it definitely would've felt more organic. Navi felt bland, sure, but in the context of that being her job/duty, and her doing everything she could, when she could to help Link, she did a fine job. Tatl might've been an ass to Link to start, but going through the first loop has them running around Clock Town together for 72 hours, before going back in time and doing it again, so even if it takes the player one or two days to actually clear Woodfall, they've still been together for a minimum of 78 hours at that point, and she's probably had more than enough time to want to apologize after finding out that her Friend is trying to slam dunk a moon into the Earth, it's a minor thing, but Tatl actually has another dialogue set if you go to fight Majora again, and she's much more confident that time, It's a small thing, but heartwarming to see that she knows Link can do it. The King of Red Lions is an interesting case, but I definitely cried at the end of Wind Waker thanks to him, It's a lot of simple things, but seeing him in Boat form always animated and alive, and then just the small raft at the end of the game was actually pretty depressing, even more so because that's the last time he appears unless you count the Link-Like in the North-West(?) quadrant of the Sea in Phantom Hourglass, so there's never much indication of what happened, was it retired and kept as a memento, or did it give out after wear and tear? Midna makes me feel conflicted, because she's a fine character, but also I feel like she goes from outwardly highly manipulative and trying to take advantage of Link, to at least seeming reasonable by the end of the First Dungeon since we know what the Fused Shadows can do to things, so even though she's definitely in it for self gain, seeing those moments of reflection after a Boss before you guys speed off towards the next area definitely feels less antagonistic than she might've been set up to appear, Twilight Princess doesn't rank very high at all for me, but Midna definitely perks up as a character during the second half for me, and it's not something you'll be seeing very often, but it's kind of jarring how nonchalant she is about Link dying in Wolf Form, which is better than previous companions at this point because she actually reacts, but the fact she just kind of Shrugs feels off to me, some people might've found Zelda shrieking or gasping when Link got hurt in OoT happened, but it made her feel like she actually cared, I can understand Midna shrugging when Link sinks into quicksand or something, she can just warp him out at that point, but maaaaan. Ciela is a great deal of fun, her interactions with Linebeck feel really organic, even better after you know she's the spirit of courage and he's cowardly, it makes sense even indirectly why they might be at odds, and it makes me wish that PH would get a remake, even though it doesn't really need it. Phantom-Zelda is the best, up for debate only for the sole fact respecting others opinions is important, but between her being concerned for Links safety if something goes wrong on the Train, or yelling for him to run as a Phantom, the definite selling point for me is her coming to help Link deal the final blow to Malledeus(?) personally. Love Chancellor Cole tho', quirky lil fellow. Fi didn't feel annoying to me because she was basically an AI made to help the Hero and guide him, I would've rather had some of her dialogue appear on screen as text while you could still act, but she was good IMO, It might've been hand-holdy, but at least contextually and within the Story it makes sense, if it was a case like with some games where, characters will repeat what they need to do to themselves constantly, even if they are alone, It'd have definitely been grating; I personally find it easier to remember I have to do something If I say it out loud to myself, since it's easier for me to remember I said something, than it is to remember that I've thought something before, but Fi essentially functioning like a GPS Cortana that goes as far as to provide Link with combat data based off of previous encounters makes me more appreciative of her because she's doing what she was designed to do (A bit too well for some people), well. If BoTW does end up featuring a Companion, I'd certainly prefer for it to be the disembodied voice of the Link from ages ago, even just providing input on how you're holding up in a fight, or commenting on the enemies and what they do would be enough for me- Urbosa noting Thunderblight is Fast is a good example, including it as something that could be turned off similar to Pro-mode disabling most of your normal HUD in BoTW would work fine, or at least I think so. Either way, 10/10 Video, thanks for getting me to think enough to write a Clickbait articles length of text.

After ToTK I can safely say that Zelda is better with companions than without. The world just kinda felt lonely, even after getting those five spoilers they were kinda lifeless. Throughout the entire game I was alone and it weighed on me. It made me sad

For me the most important aspect of a companion is, companionship. Obvious as that might sound, having someone to explore the world with makes it feel more alive and vibrant, and allows story beats to hit a lot harder by having a more fixed character than silent blank slate link. BOTW was in a sense elevated by its lack of companion because it made the world feel lonelier, Link more isolated as he had to reclaim Hyrule. But I hope the next Zelda has some form of companion to explore the world with, or at least more characters that move throughout the world with you and create real bonds with Link.

I don’t want companion characters to go away, but they do need to change. One: they only gave you hints if you asked for them two: when they speak, it should be in real time and not pause the game, and three: they should be made deeper characters who not only give you lore bits, but play into the lore as well. I guess what I’m saying is: they need to be treated like Atreus in GOW😂

Back almost a year later The companions in Tears of the Kingdom are definitely a welcome one. It's a good mix between they are there but they're also not there.

I love all the companions, especially Navi and Tatl. A huge part of what makes OOT and MM so sticky in my brain is their iconic and repeating sounds. Being able to identify Navi by her voice lines is a testament to how important sound design is to those games.

Midna and Spirit tracks Zelda are my favorite companions in the series. I love their arcs and relationships with Link. They both have big roles in their stories and are overall the closest we have to a perfect companion. I hope they bring back companions into the zelda universe and do it right like these two.

I think my favorite type of companion was one you haven't really mentioned: Actual party members like Medli and Makar in Wind Waker. Personally this was my favorite implementation of companion characters and it would be very interesting to see a Zelda title with such party members accompanying Link for most of the duration of the game (of course you shouldn't be forced to carry them around for the whole game lol).

It's funny because while Navi has pretty very little impact on OoT's story, she's the entire impetus for Majora's Mask's story, since the whole thing starts with Link searching for her.

You did Navi a disservice by cutting off the her line "this time, we fight together!" That shit really hit hard when I first played that game.

Maybe the real companions are the friends we made along the way.

I have always loved Phantom Hourglass, and this video helped me explain why, though not through the actual message of the video. It just got me thinking about it. I love Phantom Hourglass because it's not about Link, or Hyrule, or any of that. It's about Linebeck, Oshus, and most importantly, Ciela. This world needed a hero, but it didn't necessarily need Link. Unlike every other Zelda game, which requires the hero in green, it just needed a player. What it needed, however, was Ciela. (Ok, it needs every spirit, but Ciela is the best and I will die on that incredibly short hill.) It needed someone who could go out and defeat Bellum. Problem is, Bellum is basically if Ganon decided that human souls were a better power source than Goddess Doritos. He literally just starts eating a god, and he almost succeeded. What ends up defeating Bellum is, yes, Link, but it's primarily Ciela. Ciela, the literal embodiment of Courage. Ciela, a spirit with power over time. One could make the argument that Linebeck stood up with Link's sword to fight Bellum because he came to respect Link, but I think that's only half the story. He came to respect Link, and learned Courage through Ciela. Am I just batshit insane? Maybe. Is my explanation flawed? Absolutely. My english papers from High School would prove that point. It's just a thought I had.

I've found Navi really helpful for my friends who didn't play video games as kids. Learning 3D games for the first time as an adult is hard, and Navi teaches so much about the language of gaming. She is definitely annoying for anyone who knows how to play, though XD

I had zero problems with Midna being the companion. Mainly because she is a fantastic character

I wish Breath of the Wild had a playable epilogue on which Link and Zelda can explore the world together after achieving peace.

This reminded me a lot of the the discussion about flawed tutorials. It seems to be less about the companion and more about tutorials that have not been propoerly implemented. In this case it is both a flowed implementation of a character and a flawed implementation of a tutorial.

I think that inspiration can definitely be pulled from other games as well - I think about Bioshock Infinite and how well Elizabeth worked as a companion, the way she contributed to the mechanics worked so well and definitely contributed to the feeling of a bond with her.

I honestly wonder if the issue with Navi's lines is really that they are "demanding", or just that they are memeable? As companions go, she's actually one of the less obtrusive, yet her voice lines make her one of the easiest to poke fun at.

i would like to add detail on your bit about Link not having any characterization. with at least the breath of the wild link is clear that before his loss of memory he was kind-hearted and courageous however when he was told he was the hero it crushed him. in a way that affected his relationships with other characters to the point where while in the memories he never seems to smile while in the present even after getting his memories back even after all his loss he seems to feel free in a way. even with all the responsibility.

Ghost Zelda was the best one. You actually get to control the companion and it’s Zelda. Someone you instantly care about since it’s the Legend of Zelda. There were multiple moments where the game really hyped you up for being a great duo. Not someone guiding you. And it looks like we’re getting another Zelda as a companion for botw2, maybe tied to the sheikah slate more

I think the thing that made me appreciate Navi is her mature attitude. Yeah she’s annoying, because she *is* nagging you. She’s like a mom or a way more mature older sister. Which is also notable in how she leads you by the nose as kid Link, but when you’re an adult she’s at least as clueless about the world around you as you are, giving vague hints or just acting as a voice recorder for Sheik. I dunno, I just always felt that the whole thing at the start of the game in Kokiri Forest was Link being officially not the “orphan” anymore. Everybody had their family, their parent who protects them, with Deku Tree watching over the families. But Link had no fairy. He had to be self-reliant as a kid. Then he gets his fairy mom, and there’s a little bit of joy in his life, only for grandpa Deku Tree to die in front of him asking him to do something. In that context there’s a whole extra layer to everything Navi does and is, and I always found it a bit weird how everyone hates her for it. You love your mom, don’t you? Why the hell do you hate Navi for being Link’s mom, telling him to go clean his -room- Fire Temple? NB: this also applies to the dynamics Link has with several other companions. King of Red Lions of course has a very fatherly way to him, Midna is 100% Link’s bratty little sister, Ezlo is the estranged workaholic/alcoholic uncle who doesn’t like kids, and Ciela is that cousin who idolises Link. Fi still comes across weird *because* she’s so alien… it’s like a smart fridge being considered family. Tatl… never really hit for me. I found her much more annoying than Navi, actually, because she explicitly had no context. When she interjected, it was to say “I’m not affiliated!”.

Tatl is the only companion I really connect with. Navi was given a grand quest by the tree. Red Lions was a king, Midna was a princess. Elzo (Ezlo?) was a magical item. Tatl just existed with her brother and their skull kid, they watched their friend change and tear them and their world apart. Tatl was just tryna vibe and got stuck trying to put the world back together. It was never her job or prophecy, parallel with Link's adventure in Termina. It wasn't his job to save everyone, but he did without a second thought

Thank you for including the DS Zelda games, for some reason i feel they are often ignored even though they are the two Zelda games i grew up on.

As annoying as Fi was, I think that made it all the more emotional in the 'goodbye' scene at the end of Skyward Sword -- and I literally jumped out of my seat when I heard her sound coming from the Master Sword in the flashback scene where Link gets mortally wounded in Breath of the Wild.

I really like Midna because shes so critical to the story. Not just for gane play, being the thung allowing for warping and turning into a wolf, but she also has a complex plan going on in the background, and shes the one eho made him go get the pieces of the fused shadow and then the mirror of twilight. Without her, Link might have been able to escape the dungeon on his own with time, but after getting out he'd have no idea where to go or where the children were. Maybe he would have run into one of the light spirits and eventually saved the kids, but then he probably would have just gone home. He had the courage and desire to help, but he was just a farm boy and without a guide would have had no idea how to help. Gosh I love Twilight Princess

I like how in Tears of the Kingdom we have companions in certain parts of the game but they don't interrupt our gameplay. I think that that was the thing that always annoyed me the most: how I couldn't play properly with all these interruptions.

When it comes to Fi. I was playing my first Zelda game after Minish cap, Skyward sword, and I was only 10 when that came SS came out. From that perspective of always at least having Ezlo around whenever i got lonely in a dungeon or got stuck, it was nice to once again have an anchor I could rely on to ask questions as Fi has several dialogue options and info dumps if you get stuck. I actually really enjoyed her growth throughout the game. Yes she was still somewhat robotic at the end of the game, but there was just this everso slight drop of humanity in that goodbye, and it sent 10 year old me into sobbing territory, just as Ezlo having to leave at the end of minish cap did. I like the companions, and I think BotW felt almost too lonely at times, but at least then I could just go to a town and do some shopping etc. I already feel lonely enough in my life, so to be honest, BotW's feeling of loneliness was not refreshing in the slightest, it was the absolute opposite for me. If Fi ever leaves the sword again, I hope to see some real soul after spending tens of thousands of years through multiple different wielders (possibly even a bit of forgetfulness and loss of certain memories? seeing as the sword apparently has been waning over time in BotW. We really should give her a recharge soon lol) btw can we talk about how Farore constantly wants to flood the kingdom?

The shika slate from breath of the wild should have basically contained Zelda's diary. So you are learning about Zelda as you go through the game. This is kind of the case already, but they could have made it more on the nose by adding more personality to some of the notes about stuff in the slate. Would have not been intrusive, but would have made the information within more compelling.

I would love to see this topic revisited with ToTK new “companions.”

I think the wild itself is Links companion in Breath of the Wild. The horse you find and bond with and travel with from one side of the world to the other, making every possible person in kakariko village happy only to discover you've been betrayed all along, the little fox you refuse to kill and the birdies you try not to disturb. Buying a rundown old house somehow leading to the foundation of a whole new town and a wedding on top of that. The world itself changes and grows as you explore it. And it doesn't require cut scenes to do so. I honestly never really felt lonely in the game. If I wanted a companion I went to the nearest stable to ride my horse around, or I talk to the little girl who does a dance that Link apparently knows? It felt more peaceful than lonely.

I think the series is at its best when you have companions. I loved having Zelda in Spirit Tracks and Midna in Twilight Princess. They were the best. I did think the Red Lion and Fii were pretty good. Despite her apparent controversies, I liked Navi.

For Botw 2, Zelda could make for an excellent occasional companion! She could be researching ancient technology/history to defeat Ganon and play a vital role in moving the story along while Link goes about following quests from her or finding Zelda herself. (Basically, let Zelda do what fascinated her so much in BOTW 1) She could just check in with Link by leaving a letter or some reward like food or something with a villager as she moves through different places. This way she never overstays her welcome and when you do meet her for a cutscene or gameplay section it feels nice to have someone with Link again! Whatever they end up doing, it seems like a waste they finally gave Zelda a cool haircut that eliminates her hair clipping problem and sent her to another Ganon torture fest after she just escaped the last one.

One of my favorite and most memorable moments from BoTW was when I was running through some plains and I heard just the sounds of nature around me mixing with my footsteps, without any ambient music creeping to my ears. I was alone. In wilderness. With a sense of treading over something sad and lost around me. I felt I was actually on an adventure on my own. I felt something that resembled the feeling when I first went on a mountain hike all alone years ago. And I loved it for it. I find it hard to explain the feeling, but I think all the magic would be lost if there was some companion standing next to me. So, yes. Zelda is better without companions.

I’m not sure if this was added in Phantom Hourglass itself, since I haven’t played it yet. But Linebeck had even more characterization in the Manga. *!SPOILER ALERT FOR THE PHANTOM HOURGLASS MANGA!* He actually was a part of the Ghost ship’s crew. Before it became a ghost ship. And he ran away on the only escape boat when it got cursed. Leaving the other crew members to roam the ghost ship for eternity. It made his contribution in the final battle even more interesting and he was one of my favorite parts of the story. The manga’s add a lot of new elements to the story of the games and I really recommend reading them if you haven’t. I’ve read a lot of them, and I loved all of them

Fi never bothered me as much as she seems to bother others. Her final scene in SS is so gutting to me. I REALLY hope that in BotW 2 she makes a reappearance (which I feel there's a decent chance considering it seems like the master sword took considerable damage and in the first game we hear Fi noises from the master sword in that one cutscene so she's clearly still in there and there's probably some repairing needed). I'd love to have more of Fi and get to see her with this more human perspective she's gained from her adventures with Link.

I actually really like FI, i just think they needed to tone down her hand holdingness and perhaps make some mechanics a bit more fun. But her story arc and character was really fun--which is enough for me to make her one of my favorites besides DUH, midna who is the best.

I really liked Tatl. Having a companion that can provide an idea of where to go really can help a lot.

In regards to BotW, I feel the Wild itself IS the companion. Not only is the game fully focused on it, as a whole, it's the one element that has helped and accompanied Link through the entire game. Even exacerbated when the battle themes have elements that never make you forget about the wild (the birds chirping) and gameplay wise too (elemental attacks, fires, air updrafts, gravity, etc). Story wise, the wild is also the only thing that gives a sense of comfort and familiarity to Link upon waking up (the memories) through the game. The game wraps up perfectly with the final Calamity Ganon fight out in Hyrule Field. The horse, the wind gales, the rain, the Wild all is wrapped up in a great way to remind is at this point Link isn't just saving the people of Hyrule, but also Hyrule itself. The land he has come to know and love and provided to him during all his adventure. I didn't realize this until after finishing the video, but I really like this take of a more omnipresent setting "companion". None of the past Zelda games would have pulled this like BotW did, and I am certain TotK won't be attempting it again either.

Zelda as a companion is amazing in Spirit Tracks. Love that game.

I would like to mention that there are precisely two completely different types of Zelda game. 1: Exploration focused, go out and find things to do and save the Princess. Not much story or narrative, besides the one that the player makes for themselves. Do the dungeons in whatever order you want, but you have to find them first. 2: Narrative focused. Tends to hold your hand and guide you along the narrative and towards cutscenes. You are often forced to do dungeons in a particular order. The two big games exemplifying these two styles are debated, but often stated as the original or BoTW for the first type, and Skyward Sword or Twilight Princess for the second. What is more important? The adventurous spirit of exploration that inspired the series in the first place? Or the story and narrative? The answer of course depends on the person answering, it’s entirely pointless to even ask. As for Link, the reason he’s a silent protagonist is because he’s supposed to be a “link” “between worlds” that the player can impose themselves onto.

19:36 Linebeck's arc concludes so well. Very feels good

I find it funny how Nintendo replaced the Sheika slate's runes with Rauru's arm, but they still didn't bother making him an actual companion. It's very funny and definitely not disappointing.

I never realized how integral (and shoehorned) the hardware was in some Zelda titles (the wii motion controls, the dual screen of the wiiU/the switch itself literally being in Link's hands, even the DS games used the microphone for a couple mechanics, and of course the stylus). When I played Wind Waker HD on the WiiU, I thought it was super cool that it felt like I was holding the map in my hands that I could glance down at as I was exploring the dungeons. However, some of these mechanics feel like they were invented specifically to justify the technology they were on. Like a 3D movie with scenes where the characters pop out of the screen to justify its 3D release. I love Nintendo's constant push for creativity and innovation with their hardware (instead of just beefing up software). But there also needs to be a balance where these innovations are used to their fullest and not just as a gimmick.

I think Midna in Twilight Princess was my fav companion. Her importance to the story was interesting and I remember caring about her when I played it. The other companions never really bothered me but I only really remember having a player connection to her, and I enjoyed when she was on screen.

This is a super well thought out, well executed video with some really cool points. Its clear that you’re a huge fan of the series and have an amazing love for it. I really appreciate your perspective on how past titles have lead to this as well as when you said “if the next game is breath of the wild but more, i dont know if it will be as rememberable as previous titles.” 🤯 Even as a person who has only played breath of the wild that quote hit hard. As a person who only played breath of the wild i felt that loneliness vibe you mentioned until i started saving the towns from their divine beasts and getting to know the people. The way that i felt was that my companions were the community i met along the way. The actual land of hyrule itself on the back of my horse. I think that the only way tears of the kingdom will be cemented in memory is if it becomes part of a trilogy.

If BOTW had a companion I feel it’d HAVE to be Impas granddaughter (?) who we meet in Kakariko, she’s apart of the shieka so her having access to the abilities and or technology would make way more sense, she could follow link through the story without needing much change to the pre existing story and she could have her own story of having feelings for link whilst having to eventually understand he dosent share those feelings for her and having to help save Zelda despite knowing this would most likely mean link not spending time with her She coulda come with us on Impas order or by asking, and then occasionally come and go to let us explore stuff and then Ninja poof in when we need access to the abilities

I personally think that companions are best used when they're something that the player can choose to use when they want to. I found Fi the absolute worst companion of the entire franchise because of just how annoying she is, tutorializing me on every little thing. Meanwhile, Midna and the boat guy from Wind Waker are great. Boat guy gets left at the pier of whatever island you land on, and therefore, if you want his wisdom, you have to go ask him for it. Midna, meanwhile, creates some of the best moments in Twilight Princess. But neither of them are overbearing or annoying.

Honestly, it's about execution, I think so anyway. Some of them, like the fairies in the phantom hourglass (the best of the 2) and spirit tracks don't detract from the experience, and linebeck is a great character while spirit zelda is attached to a cool mechanic AND helps add character to an otherwise rather flat role in the story, as the damsel in distress. (Also I loved the desolate feeling of some of the islands in phantom hourglass. Like your the only person there other than a few monsters and wildlife, and your just, all alone you know? And I liked how the other fairies were just sort of off to the side, just extra stuff that I thought felt oddly sacred in a way, just their island in general. Rose tinted glasses maybe, but I loved phantom hourglass) Edit: one last thing. I'm probably the minority, but I actually really liked Fi. Her voice was quite nice, and her intrusions sorta made sense since she seems styled after a computer, or literally programmed by the goddess in some way Second edit: so time and courage are connected, that makes sense and explains all the time fuckery we know and love. But what are the other aspects of power and wisdom? Final edit I promise: nintendo did say they weren't abandoning 2D zelda, so maybe we'll get another companion soon?

The Sheikah Slate was likely conceived as a stand-in for the Wii U gamepad since that's the platform BOTW was actually developed for. The devs removed at least a couple of Gamepad features, ie, having dual screens with the map always available, in order to keep the Wii U version from competing with the Switch version.

4:12 One more important thing about highlighting important spots - many years after Ocarina came out, in 2018, there was a roundtable Q&A with many game designers and David Shaver from Naughty Dog said this in response to level design considerations: "In first person, many players don’t look up much so you need to do things to get them to look up. Angling the ground so you are facing the sky as you walk, drawing the eye upwards with a flying robot, walls with literal up arrows painted on the wall, etc. Also, I’ve seen several playtesters never want to turn around so avoid 180 degree turns when possible." While Ocarina wasn't in first person, the camera angle makes it difficult to look up regardless, so the most reliable way to make the player look up would be the "flying robot" approach, except in this case it's for Navi

23:45 this "catalyst for change" character is often referred to as: the character having a "flat arc". I like the term flat arc because it captures how good it is that a character like link doesn't change, but changes the characters and the world around him. Some people say that a protagonist needs to change for the art to be compelling, but that's just a lie. Change is one of the primary ingredients of Story, but I think Link should keep on being Link.

Breath of the Wild's vibe would've been completely different with a companion. Talking to people should be kept scarce in a world that was almost destroyed 100 years ago. Most of the time Link is alone running around empty fields, devoid of intelligent life. Having a companion would've ruined that.

I honestly really like the gameplay idea behind navi, just having a companion that hovers over and lights up different points of interest. If you couple that with a paper mario style, location/situation based dialogue, activated only by the player, you have a great companion already. observing co-dependent companions, like mario odyssey's cappy or ratchet and clank's clank, removing them from the equation restricts the player in some way, usually movement. This works as long as you don't use it as an excuse for companion specific sections (like clank sections), keep it grounded in the core game mechanics (notice how odyssey has no cappy sections, instead relegating controlling cappy specifically to 2-player mode), and you introduce them after already establishing the player's base move set (that way the companion is a gift and taking them away in later sections is not a seen as a punishment or annoyance... as much). Most games use companion stripping to present a challenge or new design opportunities for specific sections, which is usually seen as annoying to the player, but I'd be interested in a mechanic that revolves around the player making the choice to strip themselves of their companion. Kind of like a "special move" that puts your companion on cooldown, but implemented into their core mechanics and isn't just used in puzzles, so you'd use it often in combat or for movement. The idea being a swap between two very different playstyles, intentionally initiated by the player for optimization. Something like a mount or literal tag-team between two characters

This is really interesting to hear you talking about BOTW this way with the context of the last TOTC trailer. Well a defining feature of BOTW was being alone that last trailer for TOTC draws a LOT of attention to the fact he has people fighting by his side.

I resent these criticisms.. I am in fact *very* helpful. Y'all just need to listen more 😤

Companions are fine if it's done like Midna, Ezlo, Zelda in Spirit Tracks, King of Red Lions, etc. The only companions I have an issue with is Navi and Fi since they feel more like a way to give tutorials instead of a character, but people definitely over exaggerate their annoyance.

I respect that you put the sponsor at the end, not the beginning or middle.

This video was such a beautiful analysis of the Zelda series. You perfectly described why I love these games so much and why they’ve been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. That ending genuinely brought tears to my eyes, thank you