Summary
The Sheikah are more prominent than ever afterThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomandBreath of the Wild, and that could herald one character’s return to the series.Tears of the Kingdomwas a major release forThe Legend of Zeldaseries in general, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see it influence the series' future. In particular, the Sheikah have been such a big part of the games that it’s hard to imagine them fading away. The rise of the Sheikah could also have side effects for the series' next installment as well.
Even though there wasno Sheikah technology inTears of the Kingdom, they were still important to the series' lore. As some of the closest allies of Hyrule’s royal family, the Sheikah have acted as their friends and protectors for ages. The Sheikah’s combat abilities and ninjalike skills were established earlier in the series, butBreath of the Wildexpanded the lore surrounding them to show the value of ancient Sheikah technology as well. The Sheikah Slate was one of the most important items inBreath of the Wild, after all. By the end of the latest duology, the Sheikah are now indisputably iconic to the series.
Sheik is Zelda’s Famous Alternate Persona
Originally appearing inOcarina of Time,Sheik’s appearances in theZeldaseriesare few, but she remains a notable character regardless. Sheik is a persona created by Princess Zelda herself, which she uses during the game’s events, and interacts with Link several times during that time. Despite only factoring into that one game’s plot, Sheik has become an iconic character. She has appeared in everySuper Smash Bros.game sinceMeleealongside Zelda, and was playable in the firstHyrule Warriors. Nintendo has done a good job of keeping Sheik’s memory alive, so the time could be right for her to return.
Although Sheik didn’t appear inBreath of the WildorTears of the Kingdom, Link’s Stealth Set of armor greatly resembled Sheik’s signature outfit.
Sheikah Technology Could Impact a Future Sheik Appearance
Sheik’s return could also see her with some new abilities. The all-importantSheikah Slate ofBreath of the Wildcould be a valid addition to Sheik’s tools, as could any sort of Sheikah technology. By embracing whatBreath of the Wildtaught players about the Sheikah, a new incarnation of Sheik could have access to many more abilities than even herSuper Smash Bros.incarnations could wield. Whether she remains an enigmatic ally or takes a greater role in the story, Sheik could have the ability to do far more than she showed in her debut, making her appearances more exciting.
Sheik Could Get Her Own Starring Role
A return of Sheik to theLegend of Zeldaseries could mean more than a cameo appearance, though.Nintendo once canceled aZeldagame starring Sheik, but the opportunity could be right to make that concept a reality. Other games have already expanded to give Sheik a ninja-like fighting style to match her appearance, so there would already be a basis to work off of for Sheik as a playable character. Not to mention, it could finally be a chance for aLegend of Zeldagame to feature Zelda as the main protagonist, even if it would be under an alternate persona.
Sheik is a surprisingly underused character inThe Legend of Zeldaseries, and the latest games could have set her up for a return.Tears of the Kingdomset a precedentfor the series to live up to going forward, and the next game will have to live up to those lofty standards. Bringing back Sheik would not only be a gift to old-school fans, it would be a chance to reinvent the character’s role in the series. The Sheikah’s profile rose greatly afterBreath of the Wild, and Sheik could benefit from that.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
WHERE TO PLAY
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
