Nintendo has shown off a lot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In a blog post today titled "Hyrule: Then and Now," the company pointed out some connections between its new game and Link's original 1987 adventure on the NES.
First off is the old man in the beginning of the original game who gives Link his sword. His role isn't as crucial in the new Zelda, but he does lend Link a torch when needed and has some items lying around that Link can pocket. As for Link's weaponry, Nintendo said "you'll have to find craftier ways ... including nabbing them from enemies."
Then there's the location Spectacle Rock, which does return in other Zelda titles. But this time it's hell of a sight to see, looking a bit more "mountainous than before."
In The Legend of Zelda players could use a raft to move automatically across the water. The raft will return in Breath of the Wild when "the river looks a tad too cold for Link to be swimming in."
The final dungeon in the original game was in the shape of a skull. And it just-so-happens that one of the enemy hideouts Breath of the Wild is skull-shaped.
Nintendo ends its post with a tease:
"Rumour has it that there are lots more connections between The Legend of Zelda and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Why not make it your mission to find them all?"
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launches sometime in 2017 for the recently revealed Nintendo Switch and the Wii U.