The Mystery of Mekar Island (Breath of the Wild)

[@Zeltik]

What do you think Mekar Island is? A reference to an older Zelda, or nothing important?

[@Toki_39]

Can u finish the the day link died video

[@tonelsen]

nah, they just misspelled Makar

[@AlvinaYunoa]

Zeltik Do you think you can explore more into the Gerudo ruins?

[@aaronnichols4120]

I like the reference, but the name doesnt seem to fit. But hey Zeltik, were we ever gonna get the Tower of the Gods video from Wind Waker? It never came out.

[@lazarious5424]

Both name and odd wind is a reference to wind waker and I think your right about the lvl 1 reference too good catch there

[@mlfan5986]

The game devs: Crap, did I forget to put a korok seed under that rock?

[@GrimmShadowsII]

I know this is a joke but if you were serious that would only make sense if there was nothing under the rock it should be Crap did I put stuff in the wrong place again?

[@oucyan]

more like: Game Devs: did I forgot to program a korok to spawn after you beat the stal horde?

[@calebsitton4482]

Should have made the bone piles able to be blown away to reveal korok seeds

[@ChuyGl89]

Let's hope the game director and producers don't watch this video then.

[@punkrockdavid]

When they made the game and the map layout they might have had an idea or concept for it and then got scraped but decided to leave the island in the game anyway cause it’d be too much work to take it out and or didn’t matter if it was still in, unfinished. Or maybe wanted to use it for some DLC that never got made.

[@bitter-bit]

I always thought that perhaps Makar died here, becoming a tree that would call the wind like back in Wind Waker.

[@nathandeleau5100]

I really like that idea, it makes sense and still serves as a reference to an older game.

[@aswitchfan7198]

My thoughts exactly!!!

[@flo-ph8nu]

This theory Makes actually sense

[@blakefenslerjr4858]

Maybe someone shot him and he died and painful death so he's angry after death...

[@jacksnipe]

This theory Makar sense

[@Forriedude]

"Surely this can't be a cruel joke by the developers..." Did you get Hestu's Gift?

[@-aestheticfox-3335]

@Parry Otter yes i havent gotten it yet but im not going to get it im just going to max the bow stash,wepon stash,and sheid stash and then im done i am not getting hestus gift i mean why out of everything why a big lump of golden poop?

[@dodonkedonks4764]

wolfie 100% completion

[@jaidynnguyen8950]

in japan big lumps of poo is good luck .-.

[@jaidynnguyen8950]

SO

[@jaidynnguyen8950]

hestu is giving u a BIG LUMP of good luck!

[@NotTheAuthor]

amber is hardened tree sap, and opal can form from petrified wood. on an island where everything's dead, are you sure there's no korok under that rock?

[@wilfred5179]

Not The Author Hell nah man🤣🤣🤣

[@soaringeagle9597]

@@nirgunawish lolwut

[@woomyiism]

imagine hiding under a rock on a remote island, then getting murdered by 9 stal enemies the night of the day you begin hiding.

[@dirtcollector]

so you bascially pick up a petrified korok as an item lol

[@a.person8514]

Oh wow, I never thought about that... creepy...

[@javierferrerm91]

The way I see it, Makar Island represents Mekar's last stand. In a forgotten area, it took 9 formidable, heavily equipped enemies to bring him down. And maybe they weren't even able to. He is the tree, after all. Still summoning wind. That is what the single rock hints at - a Korok missing.

[@absolutezerochill2700]

He probably defeated them but since it's an isolated island, he died of his wounds resting by the fire.

[@thomazplays9305]

Damn, that's a whole lot darker.

[@rkstoph6407]

Oof

[@tdl487]

"The tree that calls the wind, the army of the dead" That's really poetic for some reason...

[@briannacongjuico4530]

Yo no joke just read this comment the moment he said it 😳 gave me the creeps

[@ink_blot25]

It would be even more emotional if you got to the top of the tree, and faint violin notes started playing....

[@glitchville]

That would be amazing! The Wind Waker was the first Zelda game I ever played! I love it!

[@viviv6774]

Too obvious ?

[@glitchville]

@@viviv6774 Maybe,it would take away most of the mystery for sure,but it would still be cool!

[@viviv6774]

@@glitchville i like how faint the reference are in this game. Some are abvious and others you must really go through the all game to see it.

[@glitchville]

@@viviv6774 Agreed!

[@vuppet5684]

I’m still surprised that you can make a 12 minute video about one small island... To this day, I’m still impressed with your stuff

[@flo-ph8nu]

😂

[@Staeve.]

Gotta get that bullshit ad money somehow

[@ohhryann]

Not just make a 12 minute video, but make a 12 minute video that was interesting all the way through. 👌🏼 Zeltic is the best LoZ youtuber imo

[@mane23695]

Vsauce Puppet Gamexplain be like “pff amateurs”

[@gymweeb9229]

Vsauce Puppet just by doing constant repetition it’s quite easy... it really drops his quality sadly

[@matthorner35]

Island: has strong winds preventing you getting there Island: named after wind sage 'this is nothing to do with wind sage'

[@miloswanson6873]

TRYING to prevent you to get there but the wind doesnt effect swimming

[@aboveaveragecat44]

*H M M M M M M*

[@netweed09]

Certainly has nothing to do with Dungeons, that's for sure! Breath of the Empty simply has an allergy to anything exciting and secretive. Only tired, withered cryptic markings. Jeez - the developers forgot, this is a _game_ - I know there was a mass apocalypse of Malice but _Live_ a little devs!!

[@mehqahto-and-his-uncanny-u4695]

@@netweed09 1: breath of the empty is hilarious 2: the fact that EVERYTHING in the game isn’t just a gimmick for a dungeon or a korok seed is the appeal otherwise things like the guardian in the Zora domain is just there for history and how the stalnox on satori mountain ALSO didn’t give you a seed or a dungeon it’s just another aspect of how satori prevents a stal from spawning including the stalnox. Not everything has to be protagonists fuel sometimes SOMEONE ELSE IS IMPORTANT

[@Alex-lu3pn]

In reality, at Nintendo: Let's allow the intern to do this random irrelevant island just to get him acquainted with the system. Intern: overdoes it to make a good impression.

[@BaronHumbertvonGikkingen]

lmao theory accepted

[@LucaUmbriel]

Some dev: hey, intern, pitch me an idea for some minor scenery Intern: explains reference Dev: awesome, let's do that Probably how a lot of easter eggs n neat little stuff like this ends up in games, especially big open ones like this and Elder Scrolls, honestly. Less "no one cares" and more "give me a cool idea to add flavor to this otherwise boring bit of scenery".

[@tanya-789]

Can you imagine being this extra that an enormous world is filled to the brim with references, secrets, history, puzzles, etc. No wonder they delayed it's release. And I will wait however it will take so that botw 2 will be just as rich and interesting.

[@captainkirk4637]

Can confirm I was the intern

[@DarkCreed]

I think that is how many modern cartoon remakes are done.

[@dbb03]

This is why I love botw, I haven't even heard of this island, and yet it's so unique.

[@WasItSky]

69 likes. nice.

[@adderkay]

Then you didnt explore!

[@mckinneym.2743]

Adder K. Maybe they explored somewhere else bud

[@NebMunb]

@@adderkay woah, relax buddy

[@coltonaallen]

@@WasItSky 420 likes

[@moemuxhagi]

Personnaly, I believe the tree *_IS_* Makar. After his death, his body became the tree.

[@EmilyJeanAU]

Would it be weird to hope that's what it is? Seems kinda beautiful in a way because even after all the Calamity bs and so far into the future, Makar's legacy still exists

[@ededdynedd]

That's not how the Kokiri works though. They're spirits that can change form, but don't actually become that form. Like Saria. She was in human form, but not actually human, hence she did not age. If anything, i'd say it could be a tree touched by his spirit

[@ededdynedd]

OR, you're right and Kokiri spirits become seeds for new life. Ooooh... I never thought about that, I love that

[@wingedhybrid16]

I was thinking the same thing. I thought that the koroks eventually became trees and that's how places like Kokiri Forest came to be? There was something the Great Deku Tree said in either OoT or WW that made me think this. However, I could also be completely wrong. Haha

[@sophiejennings5947]

But why would the tree be dead then? Do Koroks actually die? And if they do as a tree/ die of age?

[@daylost3192]

I was thinking that the tree WAS Makar, that he and possibly other people(the ones that would start a campfire) had taken shelter and were cornered by enemies. With Makar's death, he became a tree, possibly like the Great Deku Tree, and his spirit lives on in the wind, constantly blowing and even harder when you are on top of him.

[@Silvergrove41]

Stop stepping on his head

[@tonys_write]

Perhaps the wind is blowing to try and keep people away to protect them

[@lexiebrennan7899]

I feel like it could also be a slight nod to the dying saplings in Wind Waker, which were planted by koroks

[@anthonyianmonday]

100%

[@derekschon314]

I remember stumbling on this island looking for korok seeds. Once I landed and found none I saw the bones and figured that some Stalfos would appear at night. Was totally caught off guard by the platoon of high level monsters

[@penguin_reader_yt9510]

same

[@AngelStickman]

Same, I had a thunderstorm as well.

[@SuperJelly55]

Same but with a gloom spawn 😊

[@kaelsauder7877]

It's really amazing how many references there are in Breath of the Wild. Great Video!

[@inkubusgaming]

While watching the video, I've gotten a much darker idea. Know how in wind waker, Koroks would scatter across the sea planting korok seeds to grow great trees? Remember how those trees were the spots that koroks lived and died to give birth to great trees? What if it was Maker's tree? What if it was his grave?

[@monsieurjulio5142]

What if the fact that there le no korok under the rock was because there is no korok under the rock anymore?

[@nichii1603]

Huh. I’d never thought about that. It makes so much sense!

[@noblechief4023]

Well the game is set in the child timeline.

[@noblechief4023]

Well the game is set in the child timeline.

[@gcubedi5625]

Zeltik should see this

[@majestichotwings6974]

I feel that’d be a good place for a dungeon in the BotW sequel, another callback to the first Zelda dungeon

[@mememologies7363]

Majestic Hotwings that’d be a pretty cool reference

[@thatonek1duno]

I’d like that too. Another one would be if Vah Naboris moved and Spectacle Rock was the same way.

[@rai357]

Zelda devs: "Sir, what should we do if they want us to make a sequel? We're already running low on ideas." Fujibayashi: "Stick some random shit in there and have Zeltik make up stories for us later."

[@NemesisFilms-sf1ss]

Running low on ideas huh? It sure turned out different.

[@jovaneybernard2206]

I found this island at night by mistake and was treated with one hit from the dragon bone club and 2 bomb arrows which resulted in my immediate death

[@thechosenbeastdoesgames956]

Jovaney Bernard Rest In Peace my fellow Zeltik watcher

[@Oddie99000]

They have bomb arrows too? Oh hell naw. I'm not visiting this island until late game when I'm more prepared to fight them

[@FeralFaceBitingClownBoi]

I tried to be stealthy when fighting the lynel and after the second times I died I said "fuck it!" And just attacked it brutally until it died.

[@dekimaros]

You could've utilized your remote bombs.. They get knocked down and disarmed with them

[@satanic_warmaster]

That same thing happened to me when I started my Botw gameplay and I had low hearts & bad armor. I got shooted by icearrow and got hit by good weapons. Also game needed automatically save when I came to this island 🙄 and same enemies killed about 10 times.

[@maskedduelist1380]

I love the Legend of Zelda, like REALLY love it. But Zeltik can somehow make me appreciate it even more.

[@gungaloscrungalo8925]

So cool to imagine that the very first dungeon is hidden away forever right beneath Link's feet. Only thing missing is the wooden bridge to the island, not surprising that it wouldn't be there anymore after tens of thousands of years.

[@outdater9302]

I just had a realisation that this could be evidence to breath of the wilds timeline placement

[@Beofware]

It would be cool if you could see remnants of the bridge in the water

[@BJGvideos]

@@outdater9302 Isn't BotW the current end point of all timelines?

[@gungaloscrungalo8925]

@@outdater9302 Not really, it's just more of an easter egg. The main, canonical story directly references Twilight Princess, so that confirms the child timeline for me, although I know there's some debate.

[@nicolaswarren3453]

@@gungaloscrungalo8925 If you're referring to one of the memory cutscenes, the game that gets referenced actually changes depending on the translation. If memory serves, the line "or steeped in the glow of twilight" is either replaced or added to by the line "crossing the ocean and making a link to the past" in European translations. So that one cutscene references games from every branch of the timeline. Just some food for thought.

[@BirdieSenpai]

Mekar Island is the physical embodiment of "Mom/Dad, what is [something] for?" "To make you ask questions." Well-played, Nintendo. Jokes aside, this is absolutely amazing.

[@netweed09]

What?

[@thousandsofclowns]

Perhaps this island is where Makar was ambushed and killed by the undead. His body sprouted a tree, which was inhabited by his spirit. I think that he is using the winds to guide Link away from the island, and protect him from succumbing to a similar fate - like the hero saved him eons ago.

[@crazykingofspades5101]

When you revealed the Zelda one comparison, I could not stop smiling. It felt so good to know that it could be a reference to the very beginning of one of my favorite game franchises ever.

[@eaglelord145]

Note also how some of the enemies wield *dragon* bone weapons, and the first boss of Zelda 1 was a dragon

[@Attaxalotl]

They planned so much around that island.

[@Void_Echoes]

The Edgy-unedgy Oh my god you genius

[@reaperandgrim]

Genius just genius

[@AliceMeder]

Though I have to say that those weapons are only called that in the English version. At least in the German version they're called only "Bone weapons"

[@taik3tsu]

@@AliceMeder I dont know how they're called in other languages, but in spanish they are called dragon too. Well, in spanish Revali's gale it's called "Furia de Revali", that translated would mean "revali's fury" so I dont know whats ok and what not haha

[@HaruVibes_]

This game never stops giving huh. Feel like in 10 years we'll still be finding stuff lol. Not to mention BotW 2 on the horizon.

[@namenamename390]

On the horizon is a bit of a stretch... Considering how long we had to wait for the original, I doubt we'll get the sequel before 2022

[@Falkuzrules]

We're not "finding stuff," we're learning stuff that was already found. Plus it's only been 2 years* and a half, it's not like those decades-old games where we find some kind of secret message in a hidden room no one knew about for all that time because some developer finally told us how to find it.

[@HaruVibes_]

@@namenamename390 The engine is already there which saves a lot of time. I don't think they'd wanna make the same mistake with teasing a game that's years and years off again. They purposefully teased BotW2 to get conversations going.

[@namenamename390]

@@Falkuzrules it's been 2 and a half years. The game came out in early 2017, now it's mid 2019.

[@Falkuzrules]

Oh yeah, I get the Switch/game's release date confused a lot.

[@siddharthgpta]

250+ hours in and this is the first time I'm hearing of this island. BotW is truly an enigma.

[@AnOriginalBreakfast]

Siddharth Gupta same, I checked my hero’s path and I have NEVER been to it, let alone knew it existed.

[@lavennia]

When I played last month I got destroyed on this island, and i was surprised there was nothing on the island during the day. Not even any chests in the water near and around it. So weird! 2 years playing and I'd never gone to it.

[@HeyItsAlyssa94]

Siddharth Gupta Same! When I get back home and get on my Switch, I am going to it! I think it’s the last place I need to explore.

[@jesciapatterson244]

Don't feel bad I have the same amount of hours and missed that village full of people right off the shore with a shrine and I stumbled on it by accident exploring.

[@glitchville]

@@jesciapatterson244 Lurelin village? If that's where your talking about,I think I found it by accident as well. And if you're talking about a different village,then I guess I need to go exploring again.....

[@Staniel08]

A lonely little island where the winds ominously push everything away from it, almost as if warning you to turn back. You arrive there to find piles of bones scattered about, and a dead tree. You lift the single rock expecting to find a happy little Korok, especially given the name of the island, but instead find a piece of either fossilized tree resin or opal, which decaying wood often plays a roll in forming. Night falls, and an onslaught of stal-enemies with notably powerful weapons rises and attacks. You survive the ambush only to come up empty-handed after all of your efforts. Nothing to show at all for having been here. Finally, you climb the tree, and a strong wind begins to blow directly away from the home of the Koroks. This place always gave me chills, and I can't help but think there's an implication that something tragic befell Makar here.

[@DanteYewToob]

What if the developers meant it _literally_ when they said BoTW takes place in all 3 timelines. What if all 3 timelines collided in the great catastrophe 10k years ago, and there wasn't one Ganon, but potentially 3! The wierd mixed landscape is because the odd slightly different timelines literally collided and the great plateau is a chunk of a different timeline that landed there, and they built the wall around it to protect the landscape. What if the Deku forest is another chunk of a different timeline? What if they are actual _physical_ chunks of alternate timelines and universes brought crashing together, nearly destroying all 3! It would explain why certain landmarks have moved or are slightly different, why certain characters or races from different universes are all present. It would explain a lot! It's my current headcanon.

[@forugotenduwera7371]

Hyrule Warriors in a nutshell

[@sequoiaann860]

Holy Shit

[@garlicmayonnaise8615]

Game Theory covered this topic in a recent video, and it really does sound plausible. Except Hyrule Warriors iSn'T cAnOn

[@TheCongregate]

I'd actually like that

[@CorraThaxton]

So the Zelda equivalent to DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths from 1985?

[@Freelanermedia]

I swear to god if you let a random four year old scribble some shit on a random mountain in this game, Zeltik will find the meaning behind it

[@chizcosplays8636]

honestly

[@Mandude4200]

I once saw a video which was a in-depth Analysis of a dinosaur drawing on the side of links house in oot so that’s not that far fetched

[@emilytinykitty93]

This shouldn't have made me laugh so hard.

[@bugweasel]

I think he did well in English o_O sometimes purple drapes are just purple drapes!

[@danniluxgarbe429]

@@Mandude4200 I always figured it was not terribly in-depth. That's King Dodongo. Link scribbled it on there in a fit of prophecy, delivered by his mother who is the tree across the road, IIRC.

[@gasjebasje99]

Makar: "haha, Link will never find me lol."

[@pimpchimpin6785]

*Ends up being hidden for so long, he ends up growing into a great tree*

[@BaronSengir1008]

Hide & Seek Champion

[@VitorMerschmann]

aaaaaaaaaand he dies

[@GL_099]

This island has always confused me. I 100%ed this game twice, I KNOW what a suspicious place looks like. I KNOW how to find Koroks. When I saw this Island I was DEAD CERTAIN something was there. But... nothing. Then The first DLC was announced, and I thought I finally figured it out: Mekar Island, Of course! This place was made in advance, to hide a DLC item there! Surely, this must be where the Korok Mask will be hidden, it's too perfect! But then... nothing. Again. 2nd DLC comes and goes, and still... nothing. No korok, no treasure, no shrine no item, absolutely nothing that would give this island any right to exist in the game. I am extatic that you finally covered this. I never thought this was a mystery anyone could or would solve. But this just blew my mind. Yes, the evidence is somewhat flimsy, but it's more than ANYTHING we ever got out of this island in these past 2 years. And you managed to once again blow my mind. One question though, if this IS somehow a reference to the same island, looking at the size of the trees.... wouldnt you think there's an implication BotW somehow takes place _before_ the original TLoZ? Surely that can't be possible, right?. Whatever it means, I'm so happy you made a video about one of the few things even a veteran like me still could not figure out.

[@geo4876]

Nintendo has said that BotW takes places thousands of years after the timeline.

[@gagamer7251]

perhaps this is the same island, but after thousands of years, a few generations of trees have grown and died on this island, and we are seeing the reseeding of a new cycle of just a few trees. the dungeon could be under there, somewhere, buried beneath the earth, lost after 10000 years.

[@09-caokhanhduy89]

you...you collected 900 seeds twice? ABSOLUTE MADLAD

[@geo4876]

@@09-caokhanhduy89 The second time would be a bit easier, as you would know where they are, although they could have just gotten hestu's gift twice.

[@shadejamison4118]

Geo man. Nintendo has also said that botws location in the timeline is kind of dependent on the fans interpretation. Who knows?

[@Connor_McKinnon]

I honestly didn't know the island existed until now.

[@grodio9672]

Connor McKinnon I’ve been there and I thought something was off

[@Zaiaam]

Me too

[@Random-oy7vk]

This. although I have it in Spanish

[@nichii1603]

95% didn’t. I found it before though because I was bored and I started to explore around and yeah. I found it.

[@gamergirl209]

Same.

[@kalgantemcsnugglepants3904]

It's the little locations like these In Breath of the Wild that are my favorite and what I think make the exploration so much more fun. Something mysterious that feels like neither you nor anyone else was ever supposed to be (Which is why I actually grew tired of shrines being your reward for finding the weird out of the way places. They kinda made the experience a bit too artificial for me). Personally, I do wish there was a bit more to this strange island, perhaps more clues as to what this place could have been, even if they didn't want any kind of solid reward. Of course, since there really is no explanation for it, my preferred narrative is that the tree may have been Makar, however, the land around him (or perhaps what remained of him by the time of the game) had somehow become cursed and killed everything around him. In response, he used his power of the wind as a means of trying to deter any would-be explorers from visiting his lonely island where nothing but death would await them. Explains the weird wind anomaly around the island and the fact that you are hit with wind when on top of the tree, as well as the stalfos army. The fire could be some poor slob ending up there before you did. Yea, it's a bit of a stretch, and tragic, but hey, I liked Majora's Mask allot XD. Honestly, the evidence really does seem to point to it just being an obscure reference to Zelda 1. Hope to see allot more weird locations like this in Breath of the Wild 2 though!

[@Mom-cf2je]

I remember finding this island and being so confused as to its point. It’s like the only conspicuous location in the game with no real point to it

[@Drewsefer89]

I spent a good 30 minutes on this island wondering what the point of it all was. What kind of test was it being swarmed by the stalfos. Literally till this day it always annoyed me that nothing was there. I knew there had to be some reference. And I think this is by far my favorite. I absolutely love Zeltiks theory & it shall give me peace.

[@SkyLinkTheory]

If Breath of the Wild 2 is really reusing this Hyrule, then maybe that tree is an entrance to a DUNGEON

[@ShadowSkyX]

I suspect that lone statue of the eighth hero seemingly "guarding an entrance" of the gerudo highlands might house a dungeon behind it. And wouldn't be surprised if it was lava-ice mechanic based dungeon. Like there was a ice dungeon with a pool of magma far below (I think it's in Link Between Worlds). I mention magma because of all the air currents and in the hebra region, the hot springs.

[@wilsonbpw]

@@ShadowSkyX BIG BRAIIIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ilikeme1234]

Vetriphus I hope they plan on doing something like this.

[@Mellion555]

There was a temple-like building in the same canyon where you find the descendant of Ganondorph's horse that you cannot enter, yet its noted on the map: thats probably going to be another dungeon too!

[@areallymeanperson]

@@Mellion555 there was? Huh, weird, i remember exploring that area quite a lot

[@davidnewbon4385]

Well, if Mekar Island is a reference to Zelda 1. What if in BotW 2, this is one of the dungeons? 🤔

[@ZainKaneko]

i like the idea that places of interest (which may arguably be the whole map) in BotW might become dungeons in BotW2

[@bensquared8014]

@@ZainKaneko , this is exactly how I feel about the Zonai ruins near the Spring of Courage. It's an excellent way to reuse elements of the first game, but still create new challenges and content

[@paytonwiebe1502]

Love that idea, to all 3 of you

[@LazyGyro]

I really hope BOTW has a new world, personally

[@VixdadKeyhart]

it would be dope if they just remade the zelda 1 dungeon in 3d

[@VitalSaenz]

Nintendo: "idk just put some dead assets on that island IDC" Zeltik: "Coincidence? ... I THINK NOT!"

[@VitalSaenz]

@Marissa Chamberlain so do I! Lol

[@onyxiris]

Marissa Chamberlain Of course it’s not a coincidence, this game took many many years with hundreds of people, there’s no way they just stuck random assets everywhere

[@coolpuppy-kd8rg]

Botw: Idk lets put a random island here and give the players a tiny challenge, nothing more. Zeltik: HOLD MY CUCCO (JUST DONT SLAP HIM)

[@meking1808]

IMMA SLAP THE CUCCO

[@idrovepastyourhouse-9385]

Slap

[@Katie-The-Bug]

@@idrovepastyourhouse-9385 RUN!

[@complex314i]

In the Wind Waker, Koroks would go out to islands and plant a single tree.

[@NinShrewz]

Undefind this is what I tend to think

[@red_lonk4051]

Gotta hate autocorrect right? I'm sure you typed Wind Waker.

[@cronaman3196]

@@red_lonk4051 did it use to say wanker? I hope so lol

[@red_lonk4051]

Yas

[@strangerdanger1135]

@@cronaman3196 Lol, if it did, the R34 artists are gonna have good titles for their art.

[@timothyvandebrake5316]

Could you do a theory about those stone pillars/towers found across Hyrule? Not the Sheikah towers, but the ones that often have chests on top. The book: “Creating a champion” mentions that they were built by the Zonai but their purpose is a mystery.

[@jurasticbork8878]

it's possible it could be like making a tall pillar on top of your house in minecraft: to allow a sense of direction

[@BJGvideos]

Someone may have thought their treasure chests were safe up there. I mean we have Misko, hiding treasure all around Hyrule...

[@crimeslime5419]

Timothy Vande Brake since they have chests maybe they are meant for the legendary hero

[@mbii7667]

Nintendo Black Crisis did a video on it

[@shigerumiyamoto4615]

Bull shit, we just put it there. And gave it a name we forgot about.

[@rianesabadass]

😂

[@mesakat104]

I love this comment.

[@benwetzler6912]

Thank you Shigeru Miyamoto

[@scharb]

thanks shiggy

[@kl-ni6fm]

Shigeru Miyamoto thanks dad

[@RyukenAtrineas]

It'd have been more perfect if there was an octo instead of the chuchus.

[@Savage--]

Greatest Zelda channel by far. The level of detail and quality of speculation is incredible.

[@epicls6576]

Maybe the tree is Makar. Maybe Koroks become trees when they grow older. Just a thought

[@gabriellockwood2780]

EpicLS Hestu.

[@GhostSwiss]

Not when they grow older, but when they die

[@sleepywolf0272]

That makes sense, there's a korok That gives you a shrine mission near the deku tree, it seems very old and if you look him close it's like is becoming a tree

[@rolo2568]

Thats literly what i thought

[@nonoctoro4933]

But this tree, unlike those in the Lost woods, do not possess a face and is still alive with leaves.

[@Pollicina_db]

You should REALLY make a video about the mini Vah Medoh in the Hateno Ancient Lab.

[@Pollicina_db]

@@michellemanly1365 I don't think so. There isn't just a model of it hanging from the ceiling, there are also some propelers around the lab (made to make it actually fly). And if it was just a model why would they only study Vah Medoh? Probably to find out how to make a similar smaller Vah Medoh, but it would make more sence to me that Sheikah were planning on making mini Vah Medoh for faster travelling service. It would be a really fun video, but you are by far the only person that I know who acknowledges the mini Vah Medoh.

[@yukifuki1621]

What there is a mini vah medoh?! I have spent 300h in game but still discover new things, thanks for pointing out! Gotta check out

[@GameGodZERO]

man that actually fits perfectly, I very much remember traveling along the side of the lake and seeing the island, making my way over and being super confused; super obscure or subtle references are the best.

[@unclenutt3061]

Here is my theroy: The small tree is where another great deku tree was planted, and the spirit of mekar had resided there as well. As travlers came and went, it drew in the attention of some creatures. They killed the travlers, and while feasting on the island, they became traped and died of hunger (or something, idk.) Now the winds try to blow others away, trying to push away more people. The wind on top of the tree is the last atempt to get you away, trying to get you to fly back to the shore before night falls and you get swarmed by stall enemies, or if you do manage to either defeat the enemies or realize something isnt right, and need to get off, you can use the breeze to WOOOSH out.

[@mattomo6825]

Yeah, but like many people think, II think that tree in the middle is Makar himself.

[@Radditz770]

Spectacle Rock which is the entrance to another dungeon in Zelda 1 is also in the game right? How about this for a conjecture: All of the dungeon entrances in Legend of Zelda 1 exists in Breath of the Wild in some kind of reference, such as the Spectacle Rock and Mekar Island. That, or there are only Mekar Island and Spectacle Rock to reference the first and last dungoen in LoZ1 respectively.

[@amandabutcher23]

If there were landmarks that referenced the all of the original game's dungeons, it would be neat if the sequel did something with that.

[@mathewdempsey16]

Interesting theory. Someone should work on proving it

[@zacziggarot]

I can't even think of any defining traits of the other dungeons. Level 4 or 5 needs a raft and is on an island. 3 is in a moblin filled forest. One is under a bush... And another is under a lake that's revealed with a flute (level 6?)

[@ChibiSilex]

Best I can think of, is the Raft leading to Eventide Island, the Moblin Forest one happening in Faron Woods, and the one under the lake as the one below ground in the middle of Lake Hylia. I'm sure there's several mountain dungeons to pick from. And maybe that place where that one statue's eyes light up is the dungeon next to the graveyard..? Some might be a stretch, but I went with it as best I could.

[@zacziggarot]

I guess the biggest problem is that these places were added as a reference as on mekar island the four smaller trees wouldn't have been planted until after Link went to sleep cause they're way younger than 100 years.

[@robertprice155]

I don’t know why but watching this got me really hyped for botw 2

[@nootdreamnoot1684]

Probably because the sequal will have just as many cool secrets or even more as this game.

[@magicalkorok]

Lol as soon as you said stal enemies while talking about the first dungeon it thundered IRL

[@bowenorcutt78]

Gotta say, I've genuinely had a lot of fun playing archaeologist in the ruins, trying to imagine what the buildings used to look like, guesing at what they were used for, that kind of thing. In Faron especially, that kind of thing has actually helped find hidden loot on more than one occasion.

[@marksaile6419]

Maybe Makar on his adventures found this island and was mysteriously drawn to it by the tree. The island wanting to kill him. Yes I'm saying the tree's Magic. Still drawn to the tree, every night he would fight the stalfos enemies that would appear until he himself decayed like the tree. He felt inclined to save the tree while it still had some leaves left but ultimately ended up decaying himself. The winds that you find is Makar keeping you away so that you don't Decay like him and the tree, fighting hordes of monsters every night. The wind on the top of the tree is Makar trying to get you away from there. But that's just a theory. A GAME THEORY!!!

[@jewelediris]

I love how locations in breath of the wild seem suspicious but arent. I love the mysterious quality to places in an already conquered land

[@time2chill849]

Seeing a notification you posted a new video gets me hyped everytime

[@ralphalbi3511]

"Mekar" in the Indonesian language means, "Bloom" 🤔

[@miloswanson6873]

But it wont bloom the tree is gone and there is no flowers to live and now im at the part with first dungeon

[@woomyiism]

Well Makar defiantly failed on making that tree bloom

[@thenonexistentwatcher9001]

Ironic.

[@soul_whatsoul]

0:48 "Who were the Zonai, who decorated the land with their intricate stone structures?" Me watching this after the release of Tears of the Kingdom: "Huh, well I definitely don't know!"

[@Vivi_From_Space]

I don’t know if it’s your amazing narration and comentary or simple intense nostalgia for my absolute favorite game series but I often find myself shedding a tear or two during your videos

[@dustinfernandez7922]

I personally think the tree is Makar... My theory is after wind waker and when spirit tracks begin. Makar maybe went to that island and decided to rest there for the day and when he slept there the army of skeletons appeared at night and attacked him... he may have been able to survive the night but when day came he was to weak to fly away so he was forced to die on the island alone... being the wind sage, he was the one who made the winds to have other go away from the island so they dont end up like him... once the tree grew he made a guest of wind that can help others escape if they did come on the island...even away from the forest so they dont get lost so the add to the army....but that's just my theory😅😋

[@mattomo6825]

Or you know. He went there for the retirement. He didn't have to go through some big ass anime story you know.

[@The_Juice14]

Mattomo lol

[@Razznm]

I never even went here. Didn’t even know that happened . Learn a new thing about this game every day. Amazing video

[@therecreationalguru7323]

*dev watches this video* “Holy shit guys! Hey everyone we forgot to add the korok seed on mekar island!”

[@heroofangst]

Lol

[@clayxros576]

Guy who made it: No we didn't. Ever wonder why that rock drops amber or opal specifically? Devs: ...dude you gotta chill....

[@joevegas78]

Hey Zeltik, i know you probably don't look at older videos anymore but this video made me sad because it made me miss Makar. He was the last person I saw before stopping WW. This video makes it seem like this is where he died. While WW wasn't one of my favorites he was one of my favorite characters. Cheers for a great video, never stop following your passion.

[@gungus_spungus]

Wait, when I went their it started raining and lightning struck the tree. Are you telling me that was pure luck?

[@theneighborhoodidiot7768]

Yes

[@Echidneys]

*there

[@diandinihaleluya1000]

DAMN SAME

[@sesshorin738]

Next time try standing on the tree when it gets hot by lightning you never know

[@diandinihaleluya1000]

@@sesshorin738 okay nice idea

[@ArinJager1]

"what's the point...?" sometimes, the point is: there's no point

[@Hanakin-Sidewalker]

Damn, once you pointed out the four small trees, I was sold on the theory. You blew my mind!

[@Little-Dude]

I seriously didn't think there would end up being any big meaning to it XD I was pleasantly surprised by the ultimate connection you made. Bravo! I really need to play this game again. I don't think I made it onto Mekar island.

[@YellowpowR]

These kinds of mystery videos always end with a credit to Reddit.

[@clayxros576]

It takes insane people to solve these riddles sometimes.

[@dbb03]

I hope in botw2 mekar island is the first dungeon!

[@Attaxalotl]

Like a hole opens in the side of the tree. That would be an amazing reference and I would love it.

[@kleptolad]

Good call

[@Jkev24]

Maybe that's how they get to Gannon?

[@burnttoast9081]

I hope there are actual dungeons in BotW2

[@Attaxalotl]

@@Jkev24 * Palpatine quote *

[@mrsylar91]

The four divine beasts of botw make reference to 4 different sages (Darunia, Ruto, Nabooru and Medli), 4 different elements (fire, water, lightning and wind) and 4 different races (Gorons, Zora, Gerudo and Rito). What if Mekar island is the location for an additional divine beast that got cut? A divine beast that represented Makar, an earth/forest element and Koroks/Kokiri/Minish. Perhaps the Divine Beast hung up in Hateno Lab would have been it. A Korok champion would have been small enough to pilot it.

[@poke_my_starfish780]

I love this idea.

[@talemcknight5300]

Or it could have been a dungeon as big as the rest of the beasts, because you have to be minish to enter?

[@JoNarDLoLz]

This feels like another theory for the 17th colossus on Shadow of the Colossus all over again lmao

[@nichii1603]

Daemen Parks yeah cause there where gonna be minishes innit?

[@Littleton3513]

Victory Chaparro yeah there were

[@Rockabilly78704]

I've been playing "Zelda" since 1988....and I would love it if Mekar Island was a tribute to the first dungeon of LOZ. I just wish they would have hollowed out the tree.

[@geoffd1139]

This video has provided me with so much thought, consideration and joy. It finds me at a time where im stricken with harsh circumstance towards my work and personal life. To have found this, and become aware of such an incredible discovery, has truly lifted my spirits far beyond where they were prior to pressing play. Thank you, Truly.

[@keithmack9896]

Love the videos keep up with all the great work very proud of everything you accomplished over the year

[@wimpelkmans9003]

If this is true. (Very possible) Then the developers went deep with botw. Even deeper then i ever hoped. That we might never know, makes this game series so good

[@JoshJepson]

This is most certainly a multi-faceted reference. Part Forbidden Woods & Makar reference, but honestly the reference to Zelda 1 is pretty likely too!

[@Lheticus]

First! To spot and reply to a notable KZbinr making a comment on a popular video that isn't theirs, which is arguably even trickier than a usual first! :P

[@JoshJepson]

@@Lheticus Lol hi Lheticus

[@Lheticus]

@@JoshJepson Lol hi. ;)

[@LainK1978]

I think that the dual reference is intentional by the designers since their intention was to have BotW set at the end of all of the timelines so seeing locations that clearly reference multiple timelines works to that end very well.

[@JoshJepson]

@@LainK1978 that's so cool

[@nicgib1842]

I thought it was a reference to the forbidden woods from Wind Waker. I thought that was the reason why no koroks were there because they are not allowed to go hear the forbidden woods. I was also thinking the wind was a reference to the mini cyclones that spin around the forbidden woods. I never thought about it being a reference to Level one though.

[@scofieldvictoria]

Nicgib1 Maybe it’s both.

[@goggles8691]

@@scofieldvictoria Nintendo has a massive brain

[@jasonyoung6420]

With all of the hours I have into this game, I can't believe there is still a place I haven't been, time to go to Mekar Island!

[@ronald8ab]

When I first saw this island, immediately thought: Lv 1 from Zelda 1. The big tree remind me a lot the tree of the Lv 1 island!

[@increase9896]

Ronald Barreto same here. I literally just commented the same thing and then saw your post a few minutes later. I truly think that’s the real meaning of the island. A callback to where it all started

[@AtticusKiser]

These intelligent and well-articulated dissections of seemingly obscure details in BOTW are hands down my favorite videos on your channel. They really shed light on just how many layers of thought and story development were put into the game.

[@L337M4573RK]

A reference to the 1st dungeon in a Zelda game, a call-back to the Deku Tree sprout, or the last remains of the Forbidden Woods from LoZ:WW? Good luck figuring that out!

[@Lehilina]

*Ruta theme plays in background* Me: Yep, this'll be a terrifying video.

[@boiboi7717]

this is my first video on your channel, and I really enjoyed it! keep it up my man

[@rkstoph6407]

Also, in TotK, a gloom spawn/phantom ganon appears at night (5:01)

[@talitha0111]

"What's the point of the rock with no korok?" Ikr🤣

[@ZekromAndYugiAndDrago123]

As people have pointed out, Amber is petrified Tree Sap, and Opals can form from Wood. Also, while Flint is an odd choice, it could be used as a substitute for Charcoal (as it doesn't exist in BOTW), another resource died to dead trees. Between that, all of the Stal enemies, and the general theme of 'death' around that Island, I think there may have been a 1000th Korok we missed. As for the wind, well, it's named after Makar, the WIND sage. You have to SWIM to the island, like how you have to sail to it in Wind Waker.

[@plant3341]

I always just took it as a reference to the sidequest in wind waker where you give the koroks sacred water to revive the trees

[@rustkarl]

The sheer love, effort and dedicated memory in Breath of the Wild always manages to stagger me every time I come across something new. The scale of all the references and tributes across the years and timelines is monumental. Monumental indeed to this beloved series.

[@Leonardo-cw1dd]

the wind to makar island also references the fact in the windwaker that no one is supposed to enter the forbidden forest, maybe the tree could be the remains of it and the wind is trying to prevent the player from easily getting to the island?

[@kulitmed]

This is the National Geographic Show of Zelda. I love it.

[@riahisama]

Just want to say I love your videos, so much quality

[@tonypereyra7]

“This is just a random island” ZELTIK: HOLD MY MILK!

[@onyxiris]

Tony Pereyra IT’S NOT GOING TO BE RANDOM THIS GAME TOOK LIKE SEVEN YEARS WITH HUNDREDS OF DEV TEAM MEMBERS THERE’S NO WAY ANYTHING’S RANDOM

[@gluckskatze3229]

YEEESS!! I finally found this video again! I searched for "Botw lonely tree on island", "botw little tree on island", "botw lost deku tree" and sooo many more. I finally found it on a video from "Masked Nintendo Bandit". :D

[@RickyRiceB]

This makes me wanted a remake of the first Zelda game but redone to fit botw’s scale

[@jaimehlers]

I wanted that long before I watched this video. That would be absolutely awesome.

[@nichii1603]

Oh don’t even let me believe. My prayers and hopes aren’t gonna come true because, well y’know. Nintendo.

[@Oddie99000]

Yeah. I'm pretty dang sure that this island is SOLELY a rendition of the first ever Zelda dungeon's island in the style of our current game

[@rebecarauda120]

"Rewards the player with some jelly" *Beyoncé has joined the chat*

[@Laenthor]

I fully expected the Makar mask to be there, but was very disapointed when it wasn't.

[@flo-le3ym]

I found this very random.when i didn't even have the map, i guess or i have never been in that direction before. I found it strange but didn't think much more of it.

[@scribblezsplit6110]

It’s actually interesting; I recently hopped into my BotW profile to get some roughly estimated measurements of part of the korok forest for a fan project I’m working on, and, with this video in mind, made my way to me Kat island to poke around. Considering the odd nature of the island not giving you a “reward” paired with the potential dungeon reference, I decided for the purpose of my fan comic, that the stal-enemies were deliberately placed there by a specific character to guard another, very special blade. The stal-enemies standing as a trial before the hero was supposed to find a secret, magically cloaked entrance in the tree’s trunk. I love watching theory videos like this because it gets me thinking about how I can implement some of their suggestions into my story telling~

[@shaeceph6346]

Bro why is this so heartwarming though

[@Yosherax]

Using an ancient bow to kill chuchus is so cursed

[@hrtly64]

at least he isn't using ancient arrows too