The Potential Shift from Ultrahand to Magnesis in the Future Zelda Game

Exploring the possibility of replacing Ultrahand with Magnesis in the upcoming Zelda installment.
The Potential Shift from Ultrahand to Magnesis in the Future Zelda Game

Highlights

  • Breath of the Wild's Magnesis could offer a familiar mechanic with new possibilities for future Zelda games.
  • Swapping Ultrahand for Magnesis in the sequel to Tears of the Kingdom could maintain a valuable mechanic with effective limitations.
  • Magnesis in Breath of the Wild could introduce innovative gameplay elements by delving into realistic magnetism in the next Zelda game.

As Nintendo bids farewell to the iconic Ultrahand ability from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, a new opportunity arises for the revival of Breath of the Wild's Magnesis in the franchise's upcoming titles. Zelda games have a history of introducing unique mechanics exclusive to individual releases, similar to The Minish Cap's miniaturization or A Link Between Worlds' wall-merging. The retirement of Ultrahand post-Tears of the Kingdom may pave the way for fresh concepts, yet its absence will be felt in future Zelda adventures.

This transition might signal the resurgence of abilities from previous titles, with Breath of the Wild's Magnesis holding the potential for a comeback. Building upon the foundation laid by Ultrahand, Magnesis offers a comparable mechanic with its own set of limitations. Expanding Magnesis beyond its original design could bring substantial benefits to the forthcoming Zelda installment.

Swapping Ultrahand for Magnesis in Future Zelda Games

Initially introduced as an enhancement over Breath of the Wild's Magnesis, Ultrahand in Tears of the Kingdom broadened Link's interaction possibilities beyond metal objects alone. Reverting to the metal-focused Magnesis in the next game could preserve a fundamental mechanic while imposing necessary constraints.

Breath of the Wild's Magnesis: Paving the Way for Innovation

While both Magnesis and Ultrahand allow players to manipulate in-game objects freely, there is room for advancement. The next Zelda title could explore the practical applications of magnetism, offering unique gameplay mechanics. Instead of solely moving objects, players could experience magnetic forces pulling or pushing them towards fixed metal elements, introducing novel physics-based challenges.

Adapting Magnesis for Enhanced Gameplay

Expanding the capabilities of Magnesis could position it as a central feature in the upcoming Zelda game, integrating lessons from Breath of the Wild and its sequel. By amalgamating familiar and novel mechanics into Magnesis, the game could leverage magnets as a core gameplay element. Drawing inspiration from previous titles, Magnesis could incorporate various features:

  • Introduce a magnetic Zelda Hookshot for navigating towards metal surfaces.
  • Transform Twilight Princess' Iron Boots into magnetized gear for traversing metal structures.
  • Implement a magnetic field to repel metal weapons, replacing defensive abilities like Daruk's Protection.
  • Incorporate an EMP-like mechanism, potentially tied to Sheikah or Zonai technology, as a replacement for Urbosa's Fury.