Could Tears of the Kingdom Reference the Star Wars Universe?

Exploring Potential Star Wars References in Tears of the Kingdom

The upcoming game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has Zelda fans eagerly anticipating its release on May 12, 2023. As the sequel to the hugely popular Breath of the Wild, expectations are high for this Nintendo Switch exclusive. Fans are combing over every new detail revealed about Tears of the Kingdom, wondering what surprises the game has in store.

One area of speculation is whether Tears of the Kingdom might contain references to the Star Wars universe. At first glance, a crossover between the medieval fantasy world of Zelda and the sci-fi galaxy of Star Wars seems unlikely. However, Nintendo has incorporated pop culture references in Zelda games before. Could Tears of the Kingdom be the next game to do so with Star Wars?

Past Game References to Star Wars

While scarce, there are some precedents for Star Wars references in Nintendo games. Super Mario RPG on the SNES contains multiple references to Star Wars. C-3PO and R2-D2 make cameo appearances in mini-games. Mario can acquire a beam sword as a weapon, similar to a lightsaber. The boss character Booster resembles Han Solo and flies the Millennium Falcon.

The Mario Kart series also includes select Star Wars references like racing on courses resembling Hoth and Tatooine from the movies. Given these past examples, it’s possible Tears of the Kingdom could draw some Star Wars inspiration even if subtly implemented through Easter eggs. The question is just how far might a potential crossover go?

Speculation on Major Star Wars Additions

On the more subtle end, we could see cameo appearances from popular Star Wars droids like R2-D2 or C-3PO. It’s even possible Link could acquire equipment inspired by Star Wars. A Master Sword beam attack resembling a lightsaber isn’t too far-fetched. Perhaps shield surfing on the Hylian Shield could control like a hoverboard similar to those used on Hoth in Empire Strikes Back.

More extensive implementation could see races like Twi’leks or landscape based on Star Wars planets work their way into the game. If Nintendo really wanted to go all out, they could include battle sequences of Link fighting Stormtroopers with blasters or facing off against Darth Vader. Of course, that level of prominent Star Wars may upset some series purists.

Development Timeframe Makes Major Crossover Unlikely

While fun to imagine, such an extensive Star Wars crossover seems improbable when considering the development timeframe for Tears of the Kingdom. With only a year and a half between announcing and releasing the game, Nintendo likely didn’t have enough lead time to include significant crossover content.

Porting over artwork, character models and their animations, musical cues, voice acting, and other key Star Wars assets would require considerable development resources. Assets would likely have to be reworked extensively to match BotW’s art style. It seems improbable Nintendo underwent that ambitious of a crossover initiative given the tight development timeline.

References Could Connect Story Themes

So major Star Wars content crossing over into Tears of the Kingdom is improbable. However, more subtle references through story themes seem plausible. Trailers for Tears of the Kingdom depict Hyrule Castle being torn from the ground and lifted into the skies above. This bears similarities to Cloud City from Empire Strikes Back floating in the clouds.

In both Cloud City and this floating Hyrule Castle premise, there appears to be ancient yet advanced civilizations using curious technologies and manipulation of natural forces. Tying these two floating worlds together through lore references could strengthen themes in Tears of the Kingdom’s story. It would provide some real-world grounding through a familiar pop culture reference point to make a seemingly supernatural phenomenon more believable.

Is This a Stretch?

In the end, Zelda borrowing Star Wars references requires an open mind but also acknowledgement of development limitations. Extensive crossover content between the two franchises is likely a stretch too ambitious for the timeline allowed. But more subtle references through equipment, Easter egg characters, or story themes seem plausible.

Tears of the Kingdom incorporating major Star Wars worlds or characters does seem like a stretch. But Link brandishing a lightsaber-like sword? Link surfing sand dunes on a hover shield? Zelda lore referencing Cloud City to explain a floating castle? That level of subtle reference isn’t too much of a stretch for one of gaming’s most storied franchises.

FAQs

Could there be a full Star Wars crossover in Tears of the Kingdom?

A major Star Wars crossover with lots of characters and locations seems unlikely due to the short development timeframe of less than 2 years. Implementing lots of complex Star Wars assets into the game world would have required more development time.

What kind of Star Wars references are most likely in the game?

Subtle references through similar equipment, Easter egg characters, or complementary story themes seem possible. Examples could be a beam sword for Link, cameo droids, or comparing Hyrule Castle's levitation to Cloud City's hovering.

Would Star Wars references upset Legend of Zelda purists?

Potentially, if the references felt too heavily incorporated. However, subtle Easter eggs and connections likely wouldn't alienate most Zelda fans. Some crossover references might even excite fans of both franchises.

Do Nintendo games have a history of Star Wars crossover content?

There is some precedent, like C-3PO and R2-D2 making cameos in Super Mario RPG. The Mario Kart series also included some Star Wars themed tracks. So Nintendo does have a history of subtle Star Wars references in other games.