On a whim a few nights back I decided to boot up my Switch and browse for a new game to play, a new distraction from… you know…. *gestures to the current state of the world*.
Having fallen head over heels in love with Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I soon came across a similar game that hit two of my interests (Dynasty Warriors style game with the amazing Zelda story), Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (check out the trailer below and thank me later!)
That aside, BE WARNED! THERE ARE SPOILERS HERE FOR HYRULE WARRIORS AND BREATH OF THE WILD! Ok, so now that that's out of the way, let's discuss a little bit of Hyrule Warriors, the character of Sidon specifically.
Before we get to Sidon, my loveable Zora Boy, we need to set the stage of why he is so important. For those unfamiliar with the lore of BotW and AoC, PLEASE look into it, it is a world full of emotion, great story, and amazing characters. BotW is the story of Link, the legendary warrior reawakening 100 years after the Great Calamity and finding the world he left in disarray and having to make things right. He must reunite the shattered lands to fight as one against the threat of Calamity Ganon.
Mipha, Zora Princess and Champion of the Divine Beast Vah Ruta (Image Credit: Nintendo)
The reason Sidon is so important to me is his story throughout both games. Within BotW, Sidon’s story is one of both great tragedy and stalwart perseverance. When the Great Calamity occurred, Sidon’s sister Mipha was the Champion of the Zora, said to be a key piece of defeating Ganon. In BotW, Mipha has been dead for 100 years, leaving Sidon as the sole heir to the Zora throne and when first met, he seems happy, eager to help, and extremely courageous.
However, as the story progresses. Sidon reveals more about his sister and the effect her loss had on the people of the Zora Kingdom as well as on himself. Even though speaking of his loss, Sidon still remains hopeful and optimistic about not only Link's character, but also his chances to save the world. With their combined efforts one of the four Divine Beasts is freed from Ganon’s clutches and the story continues.
Now, we jump to Hyrule Warriors where my story really begins. As many know, the recent weeks (months? years? life?) has been rough to say the least, and when I began playing this game I did not expect the emotional rollercoaster I would be taken on.
AGAIN, SPOILERS FOR HYRULE WARRIORS: AGE OF CALAMITY!
Being set 100 years before BotW, Age of Calamity is an alternate timeline where Link, Zelda, and the four Champions (Mipha included) are warned ahead of time about Ganon’s arrival and attempt to stop the Calamity before it begins.
But the moment we need to see to start is here:
In the exact moment that Mipha falls in the BotW timeline, Sidon is brought from the future to save his sister in her exact moment of need. This kicked off not only my full love of Sidon, but an epiphany of something I think we could all use.
Why Sidon?
Simply put, the timeline of both BotW as well as AoC is a dark one, evil has seemingly won and the forces of light are on the back foot. But, with the help of other heroes from the future, the tide is turned back. Now I could speak AT LENGTH about each hero and how I connected with each in different ways, but for Sidon it was specifically the reason I didn’t even think of that made me connect with him.
When playing as Sidon, one of his main abilities is that he enhances his attacks with “Boundless Optimism” and THAT, my friends, is why this entire post is being written. It took awhile for it to truly hit me, but when it did, it hit HARD.
For so many of us, it's hard to deal with the constant struggle of the seemingly unending tide of bad news and horrific events. It’s easy to get frustrated, its easy to get angry, and worst of all, its easy to take that out on someone else.
Prince Sidon, Winning Smile (Image Credit: Nintendo)
But, in this instance, Sidon’s story and even his entire character concept stuck with me for the sole purpose of what he had been through. He had lost his sister to the greatest force of evil in his world, he was left alone as Prince to help his father rule. He had EVERY. RIGHT. To be angry. To be jaded. To be cruel.
But he never was.
His sister was a healer, constantly looking out for others and that seemed to stick with Sidon as well. Through his loss, through his pain, through the world literally on fire, he still kept his optimism, his will to keep fighting to save those he loved.
It’s this I think we should take note of. Now, as I’m sure we all know, the idea of “positivity” in the face of anything as a shield to not deal with it is even worse than the darkest angry. Toxic positivity is not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about “real” positivity.
I’m talking about Boundless Optimism.
What Does That Mean For Us?
Well for each of us, this will always look different. I can’t give you the secret formula to being positive and trying to look on the bright side. In some situations me telling you to do that is not the right thing either. I only wish to convey this one belief. That even though the world is dark and full of terrors, we are all in this together. We are always allowed to mourn, allowed to be sad, allowed to be frustrated about a many number of things. But in the end, we should take a note from Sidon.
We should always fight, but not out of anger or hate, we should fight because of our optimism to make things better. Do not accept what is given if it doesn't serve the best interest of all. Do not just silence those speaking up because it’s easier to just “stay positive”. Do not ignore the fight because it’s easier.
Fight. Keep fighting. Fight with Boundless Optimism.
As always, keep wandering
-Mike