Is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Actually Canon?
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The short, definitive answer is: No, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is not considered canon within the main Legend of Zelda timeline. While it’s a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, its narrative diverges significantly, establishing an alternate timeline rather than being a direct, canonical prequel. This distinction is crucial for understanding its place within the Zelda universe. The game features a compelling story set during the Great Calamity, but the events unfold in a way that is ultimately inconsistent with the established lore of Breath of the Wild.
The Canon Question: Why Age of Calamity Isn’t a Direct Prequel
The core reason for Age of Calamity’s non-canon status lies in the altered order of events compared to what’s known from Breath of the Wild. The most significant divergence arises with the intervention of Terrako, a small guardian robot from the future. Terrako travels back in time, warning Link, Zelda, and Impa of the impending disaster. This intervention allows the heroes to react differently, leading to significant changes that directly contradict the canonical events of the original Great Calamity.
In the main timeline of Breath of the Wild, the Champions all perished during the Calamity, Link was critically injured and put into stasis, and Zelda was left to hold back Calamity Ganon alone for a century. Age of Calamity depicts a different scenario where the Champions survive, Link remains unharmed, and the Divine Beasts are not corrupted to the same extent. This complete shift in events and outcomes is the primary reason why Nintendo considers Age of Calamity to be non-canon.
Alternate Timeline
The game isn’t just a “what if?” scenario, but a fully developed alternate timeline branching out from the original Breath of the Wild timeline. While it reuses characters, locations, and themes from Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity creates an entirely new narrative path. This separation allows the game to explore interesting possibilities and alternate outcomes, but it also means its events are not part of the main Zelda narrative.
The notion of alternate timelines is not new to the Zelda franchise, as several games explore different outcomes and realities. Age of Calamity fits into this pattern as a fascinating yet separate iteration of the Hyrule story. It’s crucial to differentiate this type of approach from the main canonical narratives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Age of Calamity’s Canon Status
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide further insight into the canon debate surrounding Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity:
1. What is the Hyrule Warriors series?
The Hyrule Warriors series is a spin-off of the main Legend of Zelda franchise, developed by Omega Force and Koei Tecmo, known for the Dynasty Warriors series. These games combine the characters and lore of Zelda with the action-packed “musou” gameplay style, focusing on large-scale battles against hordes of enemies.
2. Is Age of Calamity a prequel to Breath of the Wild?
While it is set before the events of Breath of the Wild, Age of Calamity is not a canonical prequel. It is a prequel in setting and theme, but it is a separate story within an alternate timeline.
3. How does Age of Calamity deviate from the main timeline?
The main deviation is that Terrako travels back in time and alters the events of the Great Calamity, ultimately allowing the Champions to survive. This is a direct contradiction of the events in Breath of the Wild.
4. What is the role of Terrako in the story?
Terrako, a small guardian robot, is central to the altered timeline of Age of Calamity. It travels back in time to warn Link, Zelda, and the Champions of the impending disaster.
5. Are the Champions alive in Age of Calamity?
Yes, in the Age of Calamity timeline, the Champions survive the Great Calamity. This is a key difference from Breath of the Wild.
6. Does Link get injured in Age of Calamity?
No, unlike the main timeline of Breath of the Wild, Link is not critically injured and placed in a hundred-year stasis in the Age of Calamity timeline.
7. Is Age of Calamity a standalone game?
While related to Breath of the Wild in terms of characters and settings, Age of Calamity is a standalone game with its own unique narrative. It doesn’t depend on Breath of the Wild’s story.
8. Is there a secret ending in Age of Calamity?
Yes, there is a secret ending unlocked after completing the main story and some post-game content. This scene offers a glimpse of the consequences of their actions.
9. Who is the main villain in Age of Calamity?
While Calamity Ganon remains a central antagonist, the primary human antagonist is Astor, a seer who manipulates events to bring about the calamity.
10. How old is Purah in Age of Calamity?
In Age of Calamity, Purah is around 24 years old. This is younger than her appearance in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
11. What is the significance of the “Egg boi” in Age of Calamity?
“Egg boi” is a popular nickname for Terrako, the small guardian robot that travels through time and is instrumental in creating the alternate timeline.
12. Is the Calamity Mod canon to Terraria?
No, the Calamity Mod for Terraria is a fan-made mod, and therefore is not canon to the official game’s story. The reference to the “Primary Calamity Mod Canon Story” is specific to that mod and not the Legend of Zelda universe.
13. Does Age of Calamity affect the story of Tears of the Kingdom?
No, due to its non-canon status, Age of Calamity does not affect the story or events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
14. What kind of game is Age of Calamity?
Age of Calamity is a hack-and-slash action game, similar to the Dynasty Warriors series. It features large-scale battles where players control various characters from the Zelda universe.
15. Can Age of Calamity still be enjoyed as a Zelda fan?
Absolutely. Despite not being canon, Age of Calamity offers an exciting and engaging Zelda-themed experience with a fun storyline, enjoyable gameplay, and rich lore. It’s a worthwhile addition to any fan’s collection, just as long as it’s acknowledged as an alternate, non-canon story.
Conclusion
In summary, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a fascinating take on the Breath of the Wild universe, but it’s essential to acknowledge its place within the broader Legend of Zelda timeline as an alternate, non-canonical narrative. The changes introduced by Terrako create a vastly different outcome to the Great Calamity, making it a unique but ultimately separate story from the main series. Understanding this distinction allows fans to appreciate Age of Calamity for what it is: an enjoyable, action-packed adventure within a unique interpretation of Hyrule.