Zelda: TOTK Already Has The Ingredients For A Perfect Sheik Game (2024)

A Zelda title that puts the focus on Sheik has long been a dream for many fans of the series, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom shows how many elements are already in place for the perfect Sheik game. Introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Sheik is a mysterious figure who assists Link at various points throughout his journey. Although the true identity of the masked character isn't revealed until the end of the game, Sheik definitely makes a memorable impact well before that point.

The Zelda series hasn't given Sheik much love since Ocarina of Time, however, with repeat appearances of the character consistently being outside the mainline series. Sheik has been a mainstay of Super Smash Bros. ever since Super Smash Bros. Melee released on the GameCube, maintaining relevance as a light, fast character with some powerful special attacks. They also appeared in the hack-and-slash spin-off Hyrule Warriors, with similarly ninja-like abilities that focus on concealment and quick kunai attacks.

Zelda: TOTK's Stealth Would Be Perfect For Sheik

A Perfect Underused Mechanic

Although battles in wide open plains might seem like a staple feature of TOTK, the game offers a lot of mechanical opportunities to go about fights differently. The non-linear approach to progression makes it possible to take on challenging areas and enemies before building up hearts or acquiring strong gear, and one of the big reasons why these fights are still possible lies in the stealth features of the game. Sneaking up on enemies is a fairly basic inclusion in and of itself, but making full use of this strategy relies on delving deeper into what TOTK has to offer.

TOTK's stealth features are never its focus, but they could easily be transferred into an experience that does put the spotlight on them, and a Sheik game would be the perfect candidate. While facing down terrifying bosses and journeying across large overworlds is a core part of Link's style, Sheik could explore intense dungeons crawling with guards or avoid hulking enemies capable of instant kills. Mixing in some more linear level design while maintaining the open-ended approach to stealth could make the systems really matter, and a smaller game could help fill the gap between major 3D Zelda titles.

How TOTK Mechanics Could Be Used In A Stealth Game

There's A Wealth Of Possibilities

The biggest indicator of how robust the TOTK stealth system is lies in the fact that there's a lot more involved than just walking up behind an enemy who's looking in a different direction. Avoiding noise is a key component of stealth, and variable walking and crouching speeds mix with clothing and items that reduce noise to focus on the importance of being whisper-quiet. Sight lines are also affected by objects, and there are all kinds of ways to hide behind makeshift cover in a similar manner to Snake's famous cardboard box crawling in the Metal Gear Solid games.

Good opportunities for distraction are also critical for good stealth, and TOTK serves up a lot in that regard as well. Like Sheik's smoke bombs that appear in other games, TOTK offers Puffshrooms that temporarily fog up the vision of enemies and render them disoriented. Muddle Buds can be even more devastating, confusing foes and causing them to attack each other. Virtually everything in TOTK can be thrown, and tossing something near an enemy can compel them to check it out, providing an opportunity to get the drop on them.

Keeping Link at the forefront of the games has been a long-standing tradition of the Zelda series, and it helps center the idea of an ongoing legend that appears in different forms throughout the timeline. Spin-offs have ventured as far as featuring Tingle as the lead, however, so a side game with Sheik wouldn't be breaking any sacred code.

The odds of Nintendo experimenting with the formula in this way still feel low, but the massive departure that Breath of the Wild and TOTK took from the rest of the mainline series shows that there's room for shakeups. Although it's been a tempting prospect for decades, there's never been so many pieces in place for a good stealth game as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom brings to the table, making it feel like it really would be a great opportunity for Sheik's day in the sun.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Franchise

The Legend of Zelda

Platform(s)

Nintendo Switch

Released

May 12, 2023

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

Action-Adventure