Ever since the game was first announced by Nintendo at E3 2019, fans of The Legend of Zelda have eagerly awaited the direct sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild. What's more, there has been endless speculation pertaining to what the next installment in the venerable video game franchise will bring to the table, as well as discussion regarding whether or not the game can live up to its predecessor. Breath of the Wild, after all, set the bar pretty high as far as future Zelda games go. However, if Nintendo wants to ensure the Breath of the Wild sequel is not only a worthy follow-up, but also stands on its own, it already have the perfect formula to go from.
Breath of the Wild's sequel should double down on everything that made its predecessor great: the emphasis on exploration, the beautiful world in which to explore, the fluid combat and the emotional narrative style. At the same time, it should boldly venture into all-new territory as far as the setting, aesthetic, themes and actual story are concerned, making the game feel familiar, but also new. In other words, the next Zelda game should be to Breath of the Wild what Majora's Mask was to Ocarina of Time.
First released in 2000, Majora's Mask is one of the most beloved games in the Zelda series, and for good reasons. While the game was made under tight time constraints and reused the engine of 1998's Ocarina of Time -- as well as many of its assets and gameplay mechanics -- it also utilized radically different ideas and an overall darker tone not seen in Ocarina, or any other Zelda game for that matter. In turn, Majora's Mask was not only able to match its predecessor, but in some ways, even surpass it.
That's not to say Breath of the Wild's sequel should be a carbon copy of Majora's Mask -- not at all. Majora's Mask was the very definition of lightning in a bottle; it's something Nintendo probably couldn't replicate even if it was actively trying to. That said, the way Majora's Mask took the lead of Ocarina of Time gameplay-wise while also going in dramatically different direction geographically and thematically represents a winning formula the developer can use to ensure its next Zelda game is not only a worthy successor to Breath of the Wild, but perhaps even better.
After all, while the two games don't seem to be particularly similar on the surface, many gamers have likened the sense of wonder experienced while playing Breath of the Wild to the first time they loaded up Ocarina of Time on their Nintendo 64. (Plus, direct sequels are rare in this franchise, so comparisons between Breath of the Wild 2 and Majora's Mask were pretty much inevitable.)
Given the ending of Breath of the Wild and the teaser trailer for its sequel, Nintendo already seems to be on the right track. Following Link and Zelda's defeat of Dark Beast Ganon, it is strongly implied that the longtime series villain can no longer be reincarnated. And while the teaser hints at Ganon returning in some capacity, a brand-new villain could breathe new life into the franchise -- just like Majora did twenty years ago. Furthermore, the teaser shot of Hyrule Castle lifting above the ground suggests the next game will take place outside of Hyrule, which is ultimately the best possible thing for the sequel.
As stated before, what could make this game a runaway success is embracing both the familiar and the different. By moving the franchise to a new setting, the sequel can utilize the open-ended exploration that made Breath of the Wild such an adventure, while also not treading old ground by sending Link and Zelda on another quest through Hyrule. If that sense of wonder is to be truly recaptured, a brand-new location in which to venture out into the unknown is the way to go.
Besides, while Hyrule is certainly iconic, the Zelda franchise has a pretty great track record when it comes to games that take place elsewhere. Take for instance the exceptional Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, the absolute slam dunk known as Link's Awakening and, of course, the crux of today's discussion, Majora's Mask.
Moreover, these games further highlight that successfully embracing the old and the new at the same time is very possible. Granted, Majora's Mask's Termina and Link's Awakening's Koholint Island aren't entirely "real," the former having canonically been created by the Skull Kid using Majora's power (per The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia) and the latter being a dreamscape created by the Wind Fish -- with both ceasing to exist when the respective games end. However, Oracle of Ages and Seasons make it abundantly clear that races like the Gorons and the Zora and enemies like Moblins and Wizzrobes are not exclusive to Hyrule, nor is using Rupees as currency.
Ocarina of Time is largely considered to not only be one of the best games in the Zelda series but one of the greatest video games of all time. By running with the engine, gameplay and assets that made Ocarina work while also taking brave risks with its setting, story, themes, new mechanics and even music, Majora's Mask was able to step out of its predecessor's shadow and become not only a great sequel but a masterpiece of a game in its own right.
Given Nintendo's track record when it comes to game design and quality control, there's no doubt the Breath of the Wild sequel is going to be a quality game regardless. However, by taking a similar route and embracing the game's exploration, combat, inhabitants and approach to the lore while shaking things up when it comes to the setting, villain, themes and overall tone, Nintendo could very well have the next Majora's Mask on its hands with Breath of the Wild's sequel -- a game that is both a worthy follow-up to its predecessor and a beloved standalone title.