It's hard to deny the revolutionary changes that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild brought to the series as a whole. The game's rejection of Zelda series staples, such as the lack of a specified dungeon order and a non-linear narrative, allowed BOTW to craft an ambitious new direction that the franchise was in desperate need of. Moreover, BOTW's expansive version of Hyrule served as proof of the huge scale and ambition that future Zelda entries could build upon, as seen with its successor, Tears of the Kingdom.

Of course, a game as huge as BOTW is bound to have a multitude of ideas that were left on the cutting room floor. However, there was one specific concept made for the premise of BOTW that left me in complete shock, as it was completely different to what I had come to expect from the Zelda series. The wild direction that this concept decided to take makes me relieved that it ended up being cut from BOTW, as it would have jeopardized what makes the Zelda series so special.

BOTW Originally Depicted An Alien Invasion

The Aliens Would Have Been A Major Threat To Hyrule

There was a possibility that BOTW would have had you going up against aliens. This was revealed in a behind-the-scenes documentary ed to Nintendo's official YouTube channels, where the development team discussed initial ideas and concepts for BOTW. During the documentary, art director Satoru Takizawa mentioned a concept by younger designers that depicted the kingdom of Hyrule dealing with a large scale alien invasion. Art of this concept was also shared during the documentary, which can be seen above.

Link himself also went through multiple redesigns during the development of BOTW. One design depicted Link with only one arm, while another design gave the hero an arm that could transform into a variety of weapons.

The inclusion of aliens in BOTW would have created quite a challenge for Link and the citizens of Hyrule. For example, Takizawa explained how the aliens would descend from the UFO and abduct cattle, which you would likely be required to go after. That's not even mentioning the huge aerial attacks that were showcased in a small demo, further demonstrating the aliens' powerful abilities and ferociousness that would have made them a tough enemy to go up against.

It's hard to fully articulate my surprise when I first learned of this concept for BOTW. While the Zelda series is well-known for its range of unusual ideas that can be found in a variety of games, the sudden inclusion of aliens would have been a huge diversion from anything that the franchise had done before. While the concept of an alien invasion certainly falls in line with the development team's goal of breaking conventions with BOTW, I can't help but feel that this initial premise would have gone too far.

BOTW Has Many Sci-Fi Elements

Guardians & Divine Beasts Are Relics Of An Older Period

At first glance, it's hard to see how an alien invasion wouldn't fit into BOTW's premise and setting. The game makes no secret of its many sci-fi influences, whether that be with the terrifying Guardians or the titanic Divine Beasts that you're tasked with conquering. That being said, what makes these inclusions feel so natural compared to the potential addition of aliens is how BOTW's sci-fi elements are so well integrated into the game's ancient and ruined version of Hyrule.

The many withered Guardians that you encounter help to illustrate Hyrule as a kingdom in ruin.

The many Shrines and Guardians you encounter in BOTW are used to depict a much older version of Hyrule. As you traverse through the kingdom and encounter these monuments, you're provided with fascinating insight into the advancements that the Sheikah race had accomplished in anticipation of the return of Calamity Ganon. Furthermore, the many withered Guardians that you encounter help to illustrate Hyrule as a kingdom in ruin, further emphasizing the themes of defeat and loss that echo throughout BOTW.

The way in which the Guardians and Divine Beasts contribute to BOTW's setting and narrative makes their inclusion feel organic, and it's something that I think the addition of an alien invasion would have lacked. With BOTW placing such a big emphasis on freedom and discovery by having you slowly uncover the history of Hyrule and the centuries-long battle that defines it, the inclusion of a random outside force would have felt jarring. An alien invasion wouldn't elicit the same ruined yet tranquil atmosphere that I adore about BOTW, making its exclusion a major relief.

An Alien Invasion Would Have Been A Step Too Far For Zelda Games

A Full Invasion Would Have Broken BOTW's Immersion

The biggest problem that an alien invasion would have caused is breaking BOTW's immersion. The game is meticulously designed to depict an ancient, scenic fantasy world, allowing you to immerse yourself within the kingdom of Hyrule and invest in the grand adventure that BOTW has to offer. The inclusion of aliens within that world would have been contradictory to what BOTW was constructing, immediately pulling you out of that immersion.

It's that breaking of immersion that makes the idea of an alien invasion feel like a step too far for any Zelda game. Even though many games include a wide array of unusual ideas, such as a crashing moon in Majora's Mask or a talking boat in Wind Waker, their inclusions are all in service of enveloping you in their story. Zelda games allow you to leave the real world behind for a brief moment and become lost in a grand adventure, and the inclusion of a concept like an alien invasion will only prevent you from doing that.

The Zelda series has hinted at aliens in the past with Majora's Mask, with the monsters known as Them being based on a possible real-life alien encounter. That being said, it's unconfirmed whether Them are indeed aliens or a different entity entirely, such as ghosts.

I can't help but feel relieved that this initial premise for Breath Of The Wild never came to be. As interesting as the concept may initially seem, the inclusion of aliens would have impeded on the immersion that the Zelda series is so well known for. Thankfully, this idea never came to be, and it remains a fascinating look into the development process for one of the most beloved titles in the Zelda franchise.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube