So ever since the first trailer- hell, since the first footage we got- I've been taking some time occasionally to theorize on what Breath of the Wild's circumstances could be; how and why things are the way they are. And last month, I really sat down and wrote out my thoughts regarding Link, Ganon, The Guardians, and the state of Hyrule. I've finally decided to share it for the hell of it, so here's what I my thoughts and theories are:
Spoiler
First of all, this is a Link who has saved Hyrule before. This is important to mention, and it's noted by the voice from the Sheikah Slate saying this:
"Link...You are the light - our light - that must shine upon Hyrule once again."
"Once again." "Once again" is the key phrase here. Rarely do we play as a Link who saves Hyrule twice- the only one that really comes to mind is Z1's Link, since Z2's Link is just him several years later. In every Zelda title where an incarnation begins, Link has to earn the right to be called a hero. He never starts off as the hero- he's a forest orphan, or a rancher, or a knight-in-training. He has to traverse Hyrule and become one by conquering dungeons and collecting the spoils. And while we, the player, are aware of the bloodline, it is rarely ever mentioned in the games. Not only this, but the voice also says another thing:
"Try to remember."
If this was this Link's first time going to save Hyrule, why would the voice tell Link to remember? What would he need to remember if he's just another newbie Link who'll someday be a hero?
But then this begs the question: how could Ganon have succeeded when Link was around to save Hyrule the first time around? Well, because in contrast (and a bit of irony) to Ocarina of Time, Link was too old to be the hero. Presumably, Hyrule probably enjoyed a golden age after Link saved it the first time. Technology and magic had a symbiotic relationship in advancing the country, and as a result, the Guardians were developed as powerful techno-magical tanks to protect the land. Link would've lived his years out in peace, and in his stead, the Guardians would stop anyone who attempted to infiltrate the land.
Then Ganon returned. No longer in his prime, Link would be slowed down by the cruelty of old age, no longer being as spry and strong as he once was. Ganon corrupts the Guardians with his own dark magic, turning them against Hyrule, as they destroy the land alongside him, thus reducing Hyrule to a barren state of wilderness and ruins. This is why there are hardly any people to be found- they were likely slaughtered by the Guardians or fled Hyrule to live somewhere else where Ganon wouldn't reign. This would also explain why the Guardians are explicitly interested in Link- a Hylian- and aren't "programmed" to chase after any old beast or monster nearby. And in a last ditch effort, the sages trapped Ganon in the remains of Hyrule Castle, as that was all they could do.
However, they knew that ultimately they would end up needing Link. And this is where the Shrine of Resurrection comes into play. The most literal definition of Resurrection is "to bring life back to." It doesn't have to mean that someone was dead to be resurrected. It can mean that something, or someone, needs to exist as it once was. Link needed to exist again, in the sense that he needed to be what Hyrule needed- for him to be in his prime. So the purpose of the cryostasis he was in was to de-age him, to take an old relic of a hero and turn back the clock. I would presume that, in this case, the consequence of this would be a form of hibernation sickness, thus explaining him only having 3 hearts and amnesia, but still having all of his adventurer instincts. (Think Mega Man Zero, where the case was similar.)
Another reason I feel this is strongly the case is that Link is clearly a seasoned warrior and adventurer. Usually, Link knows the basics of swordplay and that's... about it. He sometimes gains a mentor who teaches him advanced techniques, such as the Hero's Shade in Twilight Princess. But this Link is straight up a badass. It doesn't matter what he picks up, he can randomly forage and happen upon a longsword, a staff, an axe, a hammer, a spear, and so forth- and he's naturally a pro. It's not like Wind Waker where Link can pick up enemy weapons and gains basic utility, in Breath of the Wild, he has special techniques he can perform with each type, as if he's mastered them all before. He's also in general, probably the most resourceful Link yet, being a hunter-gatherer, a scavenger, able to sail a raft skillfully, uses his own shield as a sled to move faster downhill, and can perform some pretty advanced moves utilizing the paraglider.
There's also the fact that, according to an interview, Link can head straight to Ganon as soon as possible. There's no need to collect pieces of the Triforce, medallions, or even restore the Master Sword to its former glory. Link is technically ready to take him down whenever he sees fit. Typically, Ganon is too powerful because Link is too young, too inexperienced, or lacks the proper resources. But even if this is the most powerful incarnation of Ganon yet to exist, none of that applies.
Breath of the Wild also has a very strong theme regarding old age already. We see the remains of the Castle Town and Temple of Time from Ocarina of Time, old and eroded. Many of the broken Guardians are decrepit and covered in moss from years of stagnating. Even the Master Sword- the most legendary weapon for the forces of good, has rusted over time, sitting alone for so long in its resting place. This also likely takes place at the end of a timeline at the furthest point in the series (I haven't decided whether I think it's the Child or Decline yet, there's a lot of things that I feel point to either), being the inverse to Skyward Sword, which is the starting point for the series' lore. Restoring Hyrule is to turn back the clock for it, as they turned back Link's.
