Earlier today Nintendo revealed more of its E3 plans and detailed the avalanche of Zelda news we can expect this June. Fittingly, the e3.nintendo.com website has also been updated, and there’s one prominent image that appears multiple times:
That’s right, it’s the eye of the Sheikah, which is even given the file name Sheikah.png. First introduced in Ocarina of Time, the Sheikah are stalwart protectors of the Royal Family of Hyrule, and used to live in a village where Kakariko now stands. Despite multiple appearances and allusions to the tribe in later games, we’ve never seen any members that aren’t Impa.
Skyward Sword revealed that the Sheikah tribe’s devotion to the royal family stretches back to the days of the goddess Hylia, and as such it is one of the most ancient races in the realm.
What does this mean for the next Zelda? Well, given the Sheikah tribe’s longevity, it could place the game at any point in the timeline, so we’re sure to see plenty of fan theories piecing it all together in the coming months. It seems likely that Link will be interacting with at least one Sheikah object though; the book attached to his belt.
Time will tell what this artifact does, but it’s safe to say the world of the next Zelda is getting more and more intriguing.
When it comes to the Sheikah though, it seems likely that if they’re prominent in the story Impa will be as well. It also might not be a stretch to suggest we’ll see Zelda’s alter-ego Sheik too, given the ninja’s popularity. Then there are the tribe’s iconic tools: the Lens and Mask of Truth. These items are tied heavily to the race’s past, so don’t be surprised if you end up wearing them once more.
We’ll be sure to bring you more Zelda news and speculation as it comes in!
Written by Tom Brown
Whether it’s an exciting new entry in a series long established or a weird experiment meant only for the dedicated, Tom is eager to report on it. Rest assured, if Nintendo ever announces Elite Beat Agents 2, he’ll be there.
