Pick the timeline placement: Legend of Zelda - Breath of the Wild

[Yemachu]

Hyrule Historia provides us with a timeline indicating the order in which the games take place. Unfortunately this book was created 'long' before the release of "Breath of the Wild", so it is not specified where in the timeline it takes place. This caused the fanbase to come up with threories as to where it should belong and why.

 

What does YCM think? Is it part of the timeline in which Ganon brought peace to Hyrule by defeating Link? As evidenced by the similar hairstyles of the Links in this timeline as well as the similar look of the location where the Master Sword is kept. Or does it make more sense in the timeline where Link was sent back in time to stop Ganondorf? Which it must be based on the something which looks like the Mirror of Twilight, as well as the mention of the Twilight Realm (not to mention Wolf Link's appearance). Though the presence of Korok and Rito make quite a strong case for the timeline without a hero.

 

Did I miss any arguments for your timeline placement of choice? In which case I would like to ask to share them. Also, this thread might end up containing a fair number of spoilers, so to you who wish to remain unspoiled: tread with caution; you have been warned.

 

On another note, is this the correct forum for this question, or would Video Games have been more appropriate?

[Darj]

[spoiler=minor spoilers]

IMO it is the timeline that includes Wind Waker, precisely because of the presence of Ritos and Koroks. I remember the Wind Waker Deku Tree stating that Kokiri turned into Koroks after the flood, and Kokiri are nowhere to be found in BotW, so... yeah, that pretty much seals the deal for me. If there had been any Kokiri in BotW, then I wouldn't be so sure on leaning towards this possibility.

 

[Yemachu]

So far most people here seem to agree on the adult timeline, which is quite different from similar topics I have seen on other sites. That is not to say I disagree; I also believe it is part of that timeline. My reasoning might contain some spoilers for Breath of the Wild, Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time. Though I don't believe they are very relevant or should no longer be considered spoilers by now.

[spoiler=Reasoning]

A major point I have seen against this theory is that after the great flood the land below the ocean should no longer be usable, not to mention the discovery of the new continent in Spirit Tracks. But who is to say that this game should be placed last in the timeline? I am more inclined to think this game takes place before the Great Flood.

• In the child timeline Link warns the people of Hyrule about Ganondorf before he could finish of the sages, so the original sages remain. As such, Nabooru and Ruto (most likely) did not become sages, yet they are referenced as sages in Breath of the Wild. This makes the child timeline more unlikely.
• The Master Sword in Breath of the Wild is somewhat worn down and tends to run out of power. In the other games I have played that included the Master Sword this has not really been apparant, except in Wind Waker where it is fully drained of its power and gets fully restored to its former glory by the sages.
• The Zora supposedly evolved into Rito to survive the great flood. Given evolution is a very slow process (unlike what Pokémon makes us believe), especially if you consider Zora easily live some hundred years. Those 10,000 years since the creation of the Guardians and Divine Beasts could fit in this period. The species coexist, but one branch could go extinct by the great flood.
• In Zora's domain they are struggling with the excessive amount of water their Divine Beast produces and are afraid of the consequences should the rain keep up; implying a flood of Hyrule. Given the events of Ocarina of Time are still remembered quite well, even after at least 10,000 years, you would expect the great flood to also be mentioned more often (if it has happened prior to this game).
• In Wind Waker there is a dungeon that rises from below the surface of the ocean with a "mechanical" boss that state something similar to the Sheikah when you enter their shrines. The design is also slightly reminiscent of Sheikah technology.

 

 

[Darj]

[spoiler=]That makes sense to me, I like the reasoning xD

Yeah, Kokiri turned into Koroks during the flood, but it not explained how the process went on, and could have started during a period before the flood. Plus the Zora and Rito split makes sense: it's not like the Rito species was born right away, but there should have been a transition phase that gave both species a co-existing period.