The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – The Name Change Saga
In the world of video games, few franchises are as beloved and iconic as The Legend of Zelda. With its rich lore, captivating gameplay, and memorable characters, the series has captivated gamers for decades. One of the key elements that has contributed to the success of The Legend of Zelda is its titles, which often hint at the central themes or plot points of the games. However, what if I told you that the title of one of the most recent entries in the series almost underwent a significant change?
The Original Concept: Tears of the Dragon
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, released in April 2023, was a critical and commercial success, but it almost had a very different name. In a surprising revelation, Eiji Aonuma, the famed Nintendo developer and Zelda series producer, recently shared that the game was initially going to be called Tears of the Dragon. This revelation comes from comments made by Aonuma in the Japanese art book for Tears of the Kingdom, where he explained the reasoning behind the name change.
According to Aonuma, the original title, Tears of the Dragon, was chosen because it was thematically tied to the game’s storyline. The Light Dragon, a key character in the game, plays a significant role in the narrative, and the title was meant to draw attention to this mystical creature. However, as development progressed, the team realized that using the word “dragon” in the title could potentially spoil a major plot twist for players.
The Decision to Change the Name
As Aonuma explained, the team ultimately decided to change the name from Tears of the Dragon to Tears of the Kingdom to avoid giving away too much of the story. By shifting the focus away from the dragon aspect of the game, they were able to maintain the element of surprise for players. Aonuma mentioned that they wanted to incorporate dragon patterns into the logo, but ultimately decided against it to prevent spoiling the reveal that Zelda, one of the central characters in the series, is actually the dragon herself.
The decision to change the name was not taken lightly, as Aonuma admitted that they were running out of development time and struggling to come up with a suitable alternative. However, the team ultimately settled on Tears of the Kingdom, a title that still accurately reflects the game’s central theme of exploring the Kingdom of Hyrule in search of tears that unlock hidden memories.
The Impact of the Name Change
Despite the last-minute change, Tears of the Kingdom went on to become one of the biggest games of 2023. The Breath of the Wild sequel sold an impressive 10 million copies within three days of its release, a testament to the enduring popularity of the Zelda series. Critics and players alike praised the game for its expansive world, engaging gameplay, and emotional storytelling.
In our 10/10 review, IGN described Tears of the Kingdom as an “unfathomable follow-up” that exceeded expectations and set a new standard for the series. The game’s success solidified its place as a modern classic and further cemented The Legend of Zelda’s status as one of the greatest video game franchises of all time.
In conclusion, the story behind the name change of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sheds light on the intricate process of game development and the importance of balancing creative vision with player expectations. While the original title, Tears of the Dragon, may have hinted at a different direction for the game, the decision to change it ultimately paid off, allowing players to experience the joy of uncovering the game’s secrets and surprises for themselves.