Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most memorable moments in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – the moment when you retrieve the Master Sword. This sequence has left a lasting impression on me, and I want to share why it’s become one of my favorite moments in the entire Zelda series.
A Word of Warning: Spoilers Ahead
Before we dive into the details, I want to give you a heads up that I’ll be discussing some plot points from Tears of the Kingdom. If you haven’t reached the part where you find the Master Sword yet, I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself before reading further. Trust me, it’s worth it!
An Unexpected Journey
I deliberately waited until I was well into the game, around 50 hours of playtime, before embarking on the quest to find the Master Sword. I had completed the Regional Phenomena quests and wanted to face Ganondorf with Link’s legendary blade in hand.
In previous Zelda games, finding the Master Sword usually involved a trip to a serene forest or an ancient temple, surrounded by cute critters. Tears of the Kingdom, however, took this familiar trope and elevated it to a whole new level with breathtaking visuals and a touch of dragon magic.
Discovering the Master Sword
There are multiple ways to find the Master Sword in Tears of the Kingdom. You can follow the Dragon’s Tears questline to reveal its exact location, navigate through the Lost Woods using your intuition, or stumble upon the Light Dragon without any prior knowledge.
I opted for the latter approach, and it turned out to be a thrilling experience. After battling the Great Deku Tree’s phantom, I received the “Recovering the Hero’s Sword” main quest, which marked the moving location of the Master Sword on my map. To my surprise, the moving marker led me to a majestic gold and white dragon with the sword embedded in its head. The tension leading up to this moment was unparalleled.
The Ultimate Spectacle
Tears of the Kingdom masterfully combines breathtaking cinematics and heart-pounding action in the sequence where you retrieve the Master Sword. As you lift the sword from the dragon’s head, the dragon takes off, soaring through the sky with Link desperately clinging on. The sheer spectacle of this moment is mind-blowing.
Unlike previous games, where obtaining the Master Sword was a straightforward task, Tears of the Kingdom introduces a sense of danger and urgency. If you’re unprepared to lift the sword, Link will fall from the dragon’s back, leading to a rather squishy demise. This adds a level of tension and suspense that is unprecedented in the series.
Meaningful Significance
What sets Tears of the Kingdom’s Master Sword sequence apart is how it intertwines with the game’s story. Finding the sword isn’t just a necessary step to defeat evil; it holds a deeper, more poignant meaning in the context of the game’s narrative. Link, Zelda, and the history of Hyrule all come together in a single cutscene, giving the moment an emotional impact that left me both astonished and touched.
Conclusion
The moment when you retrieve the Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is undeniably one of the most memorable moments in the series. Its combination of stunning visuals, high-stakes action, and significant narrative relevance make it stand out among other Master Sword sequences. If you haven’t experienced it yet, I urge you to give it a try and see for yourself.