A common (and fair) request often made of us is to share multiple perspectives on major releases beyond the main reviewer. While not always possible, in the case of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild it's been on the cards, with a couple of members of our team tackling the adventure in order to produce plenty of coverage once the relevant embargoes have passed. It so happens that both share plenty of positivity around the release, but it's also clear that this is a game that is approached very differently by individuals.
Your humble scribe has already written a preview, and the chat below was subject to the same restrictions in terms of what we can talk about. Nevertheless we considered the mechanics of this game, the experience they deliver and the evolution of the franchise. Please note that we've both been playing it on Nintendo Switch, though we plan to check out the Wii U version when it lands.
Chatting it over were site editor Thomas Whitehead and recently appointed reviews editor Steve Bowling.
Thomas: So, we've both played the opening hours of Breath of the Wild (and more, but we're limited in what specifics we're allowed to talk about at the moment). First off, what was your general feeling when you put the controller down after your first stint?
Steve: I came away a tad overwhelmed, but excited. Despite reading (and writing) tons of stuff about the game, I still had my expectations locked on what I considered to be a "traditional" Zelda game. Breath of the Wild just isn't that, you know?
It's familiar enough to not leave you feeling like it's not right, but it's new enough for even experienced fans to have to relearn some stuff.
Even the comparisons to The Witcher and the like aren't quite apt at describing what we have here.
Thomas: Yeah, I think the key for many will be to roll with the punches early on, because it's a game that demands a lot of multitasking and, actually, patience. Even that opening area is so big.
The comparisons to other open-world games are interesting. They're valid, but Link's moveset and the Legend of Zelda vibes are pretty unique for the genre, I think.
Yet at the same time, Nintendo has certainly picked up structural ideas from strong third-party efforts.
Steve: Yeah. After playing quite a bit of Breath of the Wild, I can say it feels like a game that pushes the open-world RPG forward in some significant ways.
Thomas: Movement is one. I'm not sure people realise what a game changer it is that, for example, mountains can be carefully climbed. In many first- or third-person open-world games that mechanic just isn't there.
So exploration is very vertical; you're encouraged to get a high view, with the first tower emphasizing that.
Steve: This is the first game - not just a Zelda game - where I've had to carefully plan out how I'm going to traverse the environment, even.
I can't think of anything else where I've actually surveyed a mountain to determine the best way to climb it. You find yourself carefully considering the environment. At some points I found myself saying "Well, there's snow on that side, I may need to make sure I've got the appropriate amount of elixirs to survive that climb."
And even though that's just not what I've ever thought of a Zelda game, it feels so very natural, like an extension of what they started with Skyward Sword.
Thomas: Exactly, yet it becomes instinctive too.
Steve: You're right, it does. Before you know it you're eyeing the weather and plotting courses to give yourself the best chance at survival.
Nintendo's careful design and attention to detail really shine through in the game's mechanics.
Thomas: It's interesting that you bring Skyward Sword up. It feels like what we have here is a continuation of what Nintendo wanted that game to be. I suspect that time and hardware restraints prompted the cutting up of the Wii title's world.
Steve: Right. I remember in the interviews leading to Skyward Sword's release, Miyamoto talked a lot about exploring areas in depth and finding new things when you return.
The Wii obviously didn't have the power to do something of this scale, but it feels like Skyward Sword may have been the beginning of a shift in design philosophy surround the series. We saw the introduction of crafting and stats. A lot of people are pointing to Zelda II: Link's Adventure as the obvious predecessor to Breath of the Wild, but I see Skyward Sword as something of a prototype for this much larger adventure.
Also, while we're talking about Skyward Sword, it was an excellent game!
Thomas: I agree, I'm a fan of Skyward Sword for sure. I think one thing I didn't address much in my preview (because I didn't want it to be novella length) was the combat. I think a key point to make is that, like much about the game, it's dynamic. You can fight in a variety of ways, it's not just spamming sword attacks.
Steve: Absolutely. It's really important to note that in this game, especially early on, Link is incredibly fragile. That's a good thing! Enemies are legitimately threatening, many can take you out in a single blow!
I spend more time in stealth trying to sneak up on enemies than I do just about anything else.
Thomas: And there's a 'sneak attack' too, which was a nice surprise!
Steve: My first few encounters I charged headlong into, only to meet my demise. The sneak attack is wonderful! If you have the opportunity to use it without exposing yourself to unwanted attention, you should always use it. Many enemies will die from one strike, but even when they don't, they usually will remain grounded long enough for you to go in for the kill.
Thomas: Nintendo's done a pretty good job with the UI too. Lots of information that's visible without cluttering things up - the weather, temperature, the noise you're making etc.
Steve: They've also done a great job removing it! As pretty as Pro mode is for screenshots (hiding some of the on-screen information for a cleaner look), I can't live without the UI. I need the weather info most of all.
Thomas: You're right about knocking enemies down in combat, too. Enough hits and they got pushed back and sometimes drop their weapons, so that becomes a vital tactic.
Steve: Right. Unfortunately the same thing can happen to you, too. When it does it's really, really bad usually. It's interesting to see how well enemies work together, too. I've noticed a number of times where weaker peons will put more effort into notifying the big guys than they do into actually trying to kill me. If it does go wrong I also like the fact that the game holds the seven most recent saves, so I never lose much progress.
Thomas: Yeah, the AI is pretty smart with enemies, they work in teams, throw stones at you when high, scrabble for weapons if they catch you sneaking up on them at night. That said, the AI is relatively modest at times, some bokoblins seem to have terrible hearing!
Steve: True. As long as you're not running toward them, you're probably okay. Those lookouts on the towers have a pretty long line of sight though; far longer than I initially expected.
Thomas: Lookouts are a nuisance, in a good way... All told, I haven't played any open-world games without iffy AI moments.
Steve: Right. Bethesda is pretty notorious for what many affectionately refer to as, "Bethesda jank."
Thomas: In terms of the opening, I think it's nicely structured to teach the basics, after that though guidance is very limited, and the world is incredibly big. Based on the stuff we're allowed to talk about, do you feel there's enough narrative structure for those used to the 'normal' Zelda games?
Steve: I do, which I was surprised by. I think Nintendo has done remarkably well considering how open-ended Breath of the Wild is. For instance, you and I are both at exact same spot in the game right now, but we've taken wildly different paths to that point.
Thomas: I think it's a game that requires a cerebral approach from players though, a willingness to take their time, even in the first half dozen hours. Look at the trailers actually, showing very relaxed players chilling with the game.
Steve: What I find interesting is how the game almost subconsciously encourages that behavior from the player. I bailed out of The Witcher and Fallout 4 because the pacing didn't work for me, but with Breath of the Wild I find myself okay with taking my time and going off the beaten path. If I see a tower off in the distance, I'll abandon whatever I'm doing to go activate it. Or if my Sheikah Slate tells me there's a shrine nearby, I'll seek it out.
Speaking of shrines, they're incredibly pleasant. It's hard to believe these bite-sized dungeons weren't designed with the Switch in mind from day one. If I know I have some off-TV time coming up, I sometimes opt to pin a shrine's location on the map and save it for later, since they're so much less complex than a typical Zelda dungeon, albeit in a good way.
Thomas: Yeah, they're nice little breaks and provide the conventional Zelda-style puzzles. Even if I don't plan to play one I activate it, travel points are everything!
I agree on the pacing, and what I'd add (but not go into specifics) is that the world throws up lovely surprises sometimes, sequences and events that happen out of nowhere. It's all very fantastical.
Steve: Right! Travel points have saved me incredibly often. Especially when a lightning storm rolls in!
Nintendo has done a wonderful job making the world a joy to explore. No matter how many times I see it, I'm entranced by watching blades of grass sway in the breeze. Speaking of wind, and I know Nintendo has promoted this themselves, but the physics in this game are phenomenal. As annoying as it can be, I'm always impressed when I get hit and Link goes sliding down a hill. Or better yet, when I do the same to an enemy and their limp body gives way to some treacherous terrain before they fall to their doom.
Thomas: And the damage keeps coming as you roll...
Steve: Yeah. The first time I realized that I panicked! I had to scramble to eat something before I died!
Thomas: We've been gushing with positives, are there any negatives for you that come through in the early game? I think inventory management is so-so, though I've gotten better at quickly throwing away unwanted weapons, for example.
Steve: I'm a bit more of a packrat; I'll hold onto unwanted junk just to have a full inventory of weapons to do battle with, but I do agree inventory management is tough. When I go to cook, I often feel overwhelmed with just how many different options there are. I've become a pro at making dubious food.
It's hard for me to find fault early on, but one major annoyance is how few shields I can carry and how easily they burn or break! In my first few hours I almost never had a shield, while I was still trying to learn the timing of how to dodge. I do find further in that I had to start being more selective about what I grab, however.
Thomas: Inventory slot limitations aside, the destructible equipment is interesting. This game makes scrabbling looting thieves of us all.
Steve: That it does. I find myself robbing my enemies constantly. Overall I like it much better than games that require me to repair my loot. One point that has me really happy is how robust the armor system is. It's par for the course for the larger RPGs Breath of the Wild is cribbing from, but it's something entirely new for a Zelda game. There are some neat mechanics for people to discover.
Thomas: Yeah, but I actually think it's one area that's not overwhelming. There are limited options early on, there are varieties to suit different scenarios, but it's not head-spinning.
Steve: Right. They really showed just the right amount of restraint in offering options.
Thomas: Rather like with food, a nice touch is that some clothing has buff effects, so you're constantly on the lookout for various options to help in specific parts of the world.
Steve: Yeah, there are a few options we're allowed to talk about now, like the Flamebreaker armor set, which one can imagine the use of. It's also nice to see Link be able to have different looks, honestly. It adds a dimension to the character that wasn't there previously.
Thomas: Yeah, there is undeniable scope for a fashion sense.
Steve: As we've both said so many times, it's another layer of things to consider, but it's done so well that you never feel like it's too much. You have a single defense stat, and you'll get shown whether the total is going up or down based on what you're wearing. I like that a lot.
Moving on I'd also be a bit remiss in my duties if I didn't mention the frame rate.
Thomas: Yeah, performance is an interesting one.
Steve: As much as I love this game, and I really, really do, the framerate is a bit all over the place at times. The majority of the time it's a solid 30 frames per second, but there are times where there are significant dips, and oddly enough it usually seems like it's all about that beautiful grass.
I do have to disclaim this statement though, as we're playing on unpatched firmware and an unpatched version of the game. I don't know if the Switch day one update or if any patches to Breath of the Wild will change its performance at all, but it's definitely within the realm of possibility.
Thomas: Yeah, I don't think I've ever played an unpatched open-world game that hasn't had issues (on console, anyway).
Steve: Ain't that the truth.
Thomas: The drops rarely affect play, but there are brief chokepoints as you say with some weather / grass effects, sometimes explosions and general alpha effects. They're not happening constantly, but they are certainly noticeable.
Steve: Right. I've never had an issue that caused me to get hurt, let alone die. It's easier to forgive this go around, because, as we've mentioned, this is a massive world with so much to see and do. Where did you head after the Great Plateau?
Thomas: I headed West a tiny bit, but mainly North to the story objective, then East. I was generally following the story but getting distracted.
Steve: I was about the same. I really like exploring and looking for references to other games.
Perhaps the most interesting narrative element (that we're allowed to discuss) is the focus on technology. Technology isn't really a new idea for Zelda, but it's the first time it's been so prominent.
Thomas: Yeah, that's quite a departure. It's technology with a magical angle, I guess, but it's right at the core of what's going on. It wouldn't surprise me if the writers are making a few social commentary points, actually, but players will need to play it and decide for themselves on that.
Steve: Heck, the idea of technology dates back to the original Zelda, though it never made it off the ground. Having these technological aspects make Breath of the Wild feel really distinct. Not to mention those Guardians!
The Guardians scare me...
They remind me of the first time I saw Nemesis in Resident Evil more years ago than I care to admit. Every time I see one I feel my pulse quicken. I need to get away from them. Everything from the way they skitter around along the ground to their incredibly aggressive nature is unsettling.
And of course, they're very, very strong.
Thomas: I guess something else we should consider is the map. You unlock it in segments, of course, but you're very much expected to figure it out for yourself, using 'pins' and 'stamps' to set notes and reminders. I think it's a simple system done well, and reminds me of some major triple-A titles of the past few years.
Steve: The map, which I happen to be looking at right now, is very interesting; it's central to planning out how you're going to do things. Often times objectives pop up in completely unexplored regions. Unlike most open world games, the objectives aren't just dotted all over the map immediately, either. You need to discover the objectives themselves.
I'm reminded of how much the Assassin's Creed games like to burden the player with too much info at once. Nintendo seems to have learned from those missteps and slowly reveals elements.
Thomas: Yeah, a lot of details simply 'happen' to you through the natural order of things. I like to imagine the biggest whiteboard in the world with 1000 post-its on it as the dev team figured out the structure of quests.
I think the biggest thing players need to know going in is that small stuff matters. If you see acorns, pick them up. Speak to NPCs. Check out areas that look quiet from a distance. It's not like previous titles where it was really only the big stuff that matters.
Steve: Yeah, absolutely. You will need those items. If you see a downed guardian, search it. Ancient tech is super valuable. I'm not allowed to tell you why, but just know that every single item serves a purpose.
Thomas: Exactly. I think one sticking point, if there is one, is that those that would run through a 'normal' Zelda game in 20-30 hours will be hard pushed to do that here, so it's a real investment in time. Nintendo can talk about technicalities all it wants in terms of tackling the ending whenever you want, but that's just not the reality (unless you're an outrageously talented speedrunner). In my first 5 hours for the preview I only got a little bit off the Plateau.
Steve: Yeah, that's right. 5 hours isn't going to get you far in this game. I tend to try to run through games quickly, such is the life of a reviewer, but this is a game that demands you take your time. Even when you do take your time, you're going to die a lot, running straight to the end doesn't seem possible for the average player.
Speaking of the first five hours, I think that's about where the suggestions from the game end. After that the world is really opened up, even from a narrative standpoint.
Sadly, we're not allowed to go there just yet.
Back to your point though, NPCs all seem to offer much more valuable information than they have in past games. Even if it isn't spelled out for you, most have at least some tiny nugget of info to share, be it how to make a good dish or even offer a sidequest.
Thomas: Yeah, to say it's 'non-linear' is an understatement. I would add, though, that for those willing to work through this over a number of weeks, that could make it an incredibly enriching experience.
Steve: Right. For those saying Breath of the Wild won't hold folks over until Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I'd argue that those that are done with the game by early April would be the exception rather than the rule.
Thomas: I guess that's the big thing to take away at this stage - Nintendo's evidently worked hard on balancing, so that less skilled players can make progress and improve with practice, and even veterans have a long but manageable journey ahead. For those that want a 30-40 hour narrative, at a push it may be possible (something to tackle in the review), but I can see it being a game players gradually work through over weeks, not days.
Steve: Overall I'd say Nintendo has done a great job distilling the essence of more complicated RPGs into something that feels like them, yet completely unique.
Thomas: All of the elements and mechanics have been carefully plotted out, it seems, which bodes well. And as you say, the essence of the series is still there.
Steve: Most definitely. How long the adventure lasts remains to be seen, but for now, early in though we may be, all signs point to this being a high water mark for the series.
We hope that little chat gives some interesting extra perspective. Let us know whether you're planning to start your journey in Breath of the Wild on 3rd March; our review will go live on the appropriate embargo prior to release.
Comments (80)
I CANNOT wait for this game. Everything I've read was pretty much what I've always wanted to be able to do in a Zelda game.
Great read guys.
Really can't wait to play this and discover all it has to offer!
Btw, if I've spent over 300 hours in Xenoblade X's world then I'm in for a seriously long haul, one that I will love every minute of.
I recently read some of Edge magazines partially leaked review, skipped over alot of it (cant wait for you guys to review it) except for this paragraph which makes me even more excited.
Don't worry, no spoilers!
'Not since Ocarina of Time have we set foot in a world that feels so mind-bogglingly vast and unerringly magical, that proves so relentlessly intriguing. Plenty of games promise to let us go anywhere and do anything. Few, if any, ever deliver so irresistibly. 19 years on Ocarina is still held up as the high water mark of gamings best loved and greatest series. Now it may have to settle for second place.'
The more I read about Breath of the Wild, the more I see it like (in its own way) a sort of modern reimagining of the original Legend of Zelda. You have an overall objective, but you can spend hours getting lost in a vast world filled with insane possibilities.
Can't wait to play this Friday! I'm really curious to see if there will be performance issues on the Wii U, but I know playing this will be an amazing time regardless.
Getting more excited for this game with every tidbit I read about it.
I'm super excited to play this but sadly will have almost no time in the next couple months for such a huge game. I might have to wait until summer to really get into it
This game is great for me. I never really wanted to play Zelda, but I have logged hundreds of hours into Skyrim and the Witcher 3. I wanted to like Zelda but it always looked so...linear? No maybe not linear but small scale? I wanted to have a game where combat was more fluid, where I could explore instead of just transversing dungeons and solving puzzles. I wanted grandiose bosses and horses of diff enemies and weapons.
I feel like BOTW is a marriage of the east and west developmentally. I know this might put off some purists. I think this merge might make a game that almost anyone can enjoy. Having never played Zelda games, I hesitate say it could be the greatest Zelda ever, but I think this could be on the list of biggest and best games to date.
I have never gotten a system at launch. I'm captain not paying to be a guinea pig, corporal wait until there are more games. This game literally feels like all I need to enjoy my Switch.
Awesome preview-discussion-thing!! I am hyped beyond words for this game. But this preview-discussion-thing had me thinking. Are you guys gonna do a podcast at some point, like your sister site push square?
I'm so excited about this game. Skyward Sword was such a disappointment. The only Zelda game to be so. Every account and just by looking at it says that this is a gem.
Great read, I could not be more hyped for this game! Thank you so much NintendoLife for keeping your Zelda content spoiler free. I've had to unsubscribe from all other media sources ever since the embargo date.
I was so decided on getting the Switch by Christmas-time, hoping for some sort of Mario-Zelda bundle.
Plans may just have to change.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Skyward Sword had a couple of things that I disliked with how it was designed, but overall I thought it was really good! The story, music and characters are decent and I loved Skyloft.
Less than 4 days! I'm really excited for this game, but I think I would be even more hyped if I could unsee some spoilers. (I haven't watched the leaked cutscenes, but I know things I don't want to know yet.)
Cool discussion. I'm excited to get this game on my Wii U. Although the Wii U, will be considered a failure by some, for what it's worth, it had a good selection of games. Although The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Wii U won't be the definitive version, I'll still consider it as one last goodbye to a neglected system.
I can't wait to play this game, i just hope it's not as cloudy as it looks in screenshots and video.
I'm planning on combing through every detail in this game. From what I have seen and read, it's a piece of art. I'll treat it as such.
It sounds like Nintendo has learned from what projects like the Witcher 3 do extremely well (i.e. world building) and not what they do poorly (i.e. story telling and gameplay).
Days? Weeks? Try months for me and I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't care if it takes me 200 hours to beat as I'm soaking up every inch of this game. I may not leave the first area for days lol!
You guys say "yeah" a lot.
Good piece! Did the trick in reinvigorating my excitement for this but without spoiling any of the potential surprises and discoveries.
I'll be there at ny store, midnight. Never done a midnight launch before (lined up since 4am a few times). Strikes me as weird. I'll hopefully have the goodies within a few hours and home by, erm, 3am?
I'll have to sleep. Somehow, and then wake up ready for a full day of this caper. Can't wait
Sucks about the frame rate, especially on Switch.
"Yeah, the AI is pretty smart with enemies, they work in teams, throw stones at you when high"
Who hasn't thrown a few stones when they're high?
I really like hearing people who've played this keep relating this slightly to Skyward Sword which is an amazing game.
@Spoony_Tech I feel exactly the same way! With XCX I read reviews and comments all the time about how massive and long the game was and could take up to 60 hours to complete... I spent well over 200 hours getting there.
I just love exploring every nook and cranny, talking to everyone and finding everything.
@nintendolife great read!
I'm really looking forward to getting lost in this game for months! I'm still enjoying witcher 3 but it's not Zelda BOTW.
@abbyhitter yeah
Nice article - feels like a discussion and some interesting smaller points made.
I just listened to the podcast over at Gamesradar: http://www.gamesradar.com/radioradar-podcast-70-nintendo-switch-is-coming-in-hot/
It's pretty critical of nintendo and in particular the switch launch - even the pro nintendo guy is sceptical. He also has some large reservations about the crafting elements of BOTW. I quite like to hear different opinions about stuff that I'm excited about - and I certainly am about this. There are definitely people outside of the Nintendo fan base that aren't seeing this the same way.
I'll definately be interested to hear what they have to say in the next episode when they've had their hands on the system properly. One guy in particular is a bit of a div about it all but aside from him the others seem pretty measured.
Wish I could get a Switch - will be getting a Wii U to play on with the young kids this year (and Zelda for me) so maybe in a few years I'll pick one up - the games line up will be amazing by then!
The hype......cant.....take it.........anymore.
@KiWiiU_Freek I hear ya! During this read I also thought of my time with XCX, which was incredible. I think I was on the rushed side of that game but it still took me around 130 hours to beat it. I'm still trying to fathom how BotW's environments can top XCX but it looks like they might! I'm also happy to hear that the only real flaws so far are the inventory system (which probably won't bug me that much) and some frame rate dips, both of which, could potentially be fixed in a future update making this the most flawless game ever. Haha.
Anyway, as a last thought comparing this to XCX, i wonder how good draw diastance is, especially when paragliding down from way up on those towers.
..really good read, would look forward to a part two...
... It's good to hear about the smart AI and how the little ones warn the others even...
...was the day to day activity of the NPCs predictable or noticeably the same routine?
..I can't wait to be chillin with this game!...
@PotatoTheG Agreed. I loved Skyward Sword for the controls and the great character development and story though its true the fragmented world was a bit of a bummer. All in all, GREAT game.
Even people who hate the Switch are saying that this is the best game they have ever played or at least one of them.
@Loui guilty P:
The hype keeps building...Friday cannot come soon enough. Nice read guys.
Good stuff guys. Even though I've seen lots of the videos and have studied the locations of some of the towers (I'm gonna run right past the old man and go for that first tower lol). Thanks for not spoiling anything that has not already been seen in videos and pictures.
Can you speak of the game's main menu? Does it still have Link riding across Hyrule, or is it something different now?
Sounds like this game starts you off with Morrowind levels of difficulty. Everything can kill you easily, and you pretty much feel like an average guy just trying to survive. Already sounds better than Skyrim/Fo4.
The first time I saw a screen shot of Breath of the Wild I thought why would they use that kind of art graphic style direction then a little later I saw a couple more screen shots and some video footage and I was like WoW !!, Graphic design wise this game is astonishing it is truly beautiful from what I've seen Nintendo has set a new bar and outdone themselfs everything is so mythical and vibrant, pure eye candy everything I've seen up to this point I've not been this excited to play a game since Super Mario Galaxy . I think Zelda Breath of the Wild is a perfect example of why the video game industry needs Nintendo.
I think this game will be yhe best in history and future. No other game will ever top this.
@Romeo-75 Zelda fans call that the "Wind Waker" effect. I don't know your age, but when Wind Waker was first demonstrated everyone (admittedly myself included) moaned and complained about the cell shaded art. We thought it was ugly, and then we played it and realized we were so wrong.
Since I wont be playing BotW until I get a Switch at Xmas time I think I'll go back and play Skyward Sword, which I never got very far in.
@CB85 I spent about 140 hours on Skyward Sword. Really loved it. Finished the last dungeon and have the last boss left to beat — hadn't touched it in months. There were parts of that game that were too challenging for me and it took me months sometimes to pass them, like that challenge in which you had to fly your bird to destroy 10 targets in the limit time. I must have done that challenge well over 100 times before I could pass it. This was played over 2 years.
Now playing Twilight Princess HD and about 30 hours in. Really loving it.
And I thought my hype levels could not increase.
@invictus4000
Apparently the draw distance is even better on the Switch, which amazes me.
I know what you mean, XCX was huge and this dwarfs it apparently, can't wait.
The inventory won't bother me too much either I don't think.
It got 10 in Edge. You guys will score it something similar.
Roll on Friday!
@Spoony_Tech Me too! I'm going to relax and enjoy every nook and cranny of this version. Breath of the Wild is the single most important factor as to why I Pre ordered the Switch over buying a Playstation 4. I was close to getting a PS4 my son plays Final Fantasy 14 online and has been begging me to join him. I was so close to just skipping the Switch, then I started reading everything about zelda.
Calm down guys it's only a game! Yes I'm excited and yes I have googled "Zelda" and "Switch" 46 times today but come on people, get some perspective. BTW 2 sleeps to go.
What is the inventory management for non-equipment like? I do stress about dropping stuff if I might need it later.
GAH!!! NEED GAME NOW!!!!
Ohh, neato, a review embargo... off to Tv Tropes I go!
Can't wait to get my hands on this and a switch console 😀😀😀
I'm salivating at each mention of BotW or the Switch... Only a few moment to go!!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Indecently Skyward sword is an amazing game and not a "disappointment" like you have said. I hate that word "disappointment" It is so condescending.
This was an exceptional read - just enough info to get excited but not a single spoiler or anything that detracts from the fun of experiencing it yourself for the first time. It sounded like you were all a little conscious of not being able to elaborate on things but honestly - I think that was a huge plus. Great job. Can't wait for Friday!
I'm curious what Wolf Link will do when you jump off a cliff, or climb a mountain. And if he dies, can you scan him back in.... if Link dies, is he still there with you.
All things I'll have to figure out Friday I guess.
@invictus4000 Ye, the fragmented world was the thing I disliked the most. Every area was a pain to go through in the later portions of the game.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE anybody who considers SS a disappointments views are mute to me.
@samuelvictor me exactly.
@Alshain01 how anyone complained upon WW's first reveal mind boggling beyond belief. Makes me question said people's Souls.
@Pazuzu666 Believe me, the amount of whinging and criticizing over Wind Waker was phenomenal. It makes the people crying about how FE: Awakening killed the series seem posititvely trivial. SO MANY babies took it like Nintendo had personally slapped their mothers and made fun of their dogs. The chorus of "Nintendo is dead to me now" didn't subside for months. It was pretty funny stuff.
Things are shaping up nicely. I'm gunbe playing this game for months, if not years, by the sounds of it.
@Alshain01 to be fair, though, the initial reveal and the first artwork of Link did look like trash. I remember seeing it in one of the gaming mags of the time and literally stabbing through Link's eye with a pencil. It was so, so disappointing compared to what we saw in the Space World tech demo.
Nintendo kinda did the same thing, with that super realistic Wii U Zelda tech demo and now BotW looking completely different to that.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE - SS wasn't a disappointment to me, but I pretend like it was so that I have fuel to flame my one, true passion in life and the only thing that makes me happy: Complaining about stuff in comment sections.
Edge mag have given in it 10/10...
"The result, for all the longevity of its series and the familiarity of the open-world genre, is a game that evokes feelings we haven’t known for 20 years. Not since Ocarina Of Time have we set foot in a world that seems so mind-bogglingly vast, that feels so unerringly magical, that proves so relentlessly intriguing. Plenty of games promise to let us go anywhere and do anything; few, if any, ever deliver on it so irresistibly. Nineteen years on, Ocarina is still held up as the high-water mark of one of gaming’s best-loved – and greatest – series. Now it may have to settle for second place."
!┴I∀Μ ┴'N∀Ɔ
Now if we can have an adventure of this scale that isn't Legend of Zelda, I'll be happy. Kirby? Kid Icarus?
... Pokémon?
Great chat, fellas. It was nice to read early game perspectives, along with exploration and inventory management. Cannot wait to play this.
That was an interesting discussion!
It's sad to hear though that NL (or any other site, for that matter) didn't get any reviews samples for the Wii U version yet.
There's so much info and videos about the Switch version, yet the last time we saw Wii U footage was at E3. Since I preordered the game for Wii U and am constantly thinking about cancelling my Switch preorder, I'd really like to know the technical differences between both versions prior to the release.
Of course we know the resolution and audio will be different, but there's no word on the framerate, for example. Some comparison videos showed that the Wii U version actually offers a more stable framerate, but that's based on the old E3 footage.
I understand that Nintendo want to promote the Switch, but it's really shameful how they-re neglecting the Wii U version.
Especially since it directly influences the customer's decisions.
Yesterday I finally ordered a Wii U BotW key.€
But at the same time, I still have a standing preorder for the Switch on Amazon, albeit without any games.
ARMS and Splatoon will probably lure me to the Switch eventually, but right now I'd like to cancel my Switch preorder to save money and buy a used one later.
The only thing keeping me from doing that is the uncertainty about BotW. But I'm probably going to cancel anyway since otherwise I would have to buy BotW twice - and there's no cross-save option either.
Great read! I found interesting the mention of the word "RPG" three distinct times. There's always been an RPG aspect to Zelda, but the mention of it here, plus a mention of Link's Adventure has my really intrigued. That game, the only attempt to RPG-ify Zelda always stood out to me as the pinnacle of what Zelda COULD be, but the implementation was disastrous. If this properly fuses Zelda 1 & 2 plus....(wow weird to say but we're 3 days away from it) 9th gen capabilities in design, it may become the best game of all time (for another 20 years anyway...)
I loved the Link to the Past formula, but it seems like after Ocarina it's developed into this cult of sameness and we got further and further away from how the series started into an almost new genre. LttP had this very manageable world that always felt fun to explore everything, like the original, but more refined. Ocarina had more to "explore" but there was less actually there to explore. And recently it's gone more narrative heavy with nothing of consequence to really explore. Everything about this game feels like "It's dangerous to go alone..." all over again leaving you with that "what the heck am I supposed to do now???" feeling that made it a grand adventure.
@Tyranexx Exactly that! I wasn't sure how I felt originally about the idea of Zelda in Skyrim as a design until either Aonuma or Miyamoto said in an interview back years ago that it was kind of a return to the ideas of the first Zelda. When I looked at it from that angle, it all made sense, and I became hyped from that moment on. I can't count the hundreds of hours the original cart must have spent locked in my NES toaster slot as I just wandered around playing with the overworld. In a lot of ways THIS is the first and only actual sequel to that game that I've been waiting for since the 80's Plus a bit of the non sucky parts of Zelda II from the sounds of things.
@samuelvictor It is a remarkably positive review, isn't it? And considering the source that must actually mean something...
And what's more: this is only their 19th 10/10 in their entire 23 year run, so that's another BIG reason to take this verdict very seriously.
I haven't enjoyed a Zelda game since Wind Waker so hopefully changing up the same old formula by making it open world and minecraft-like will give me more incentive to play.
@ThomasBW84 That was a great and interesting read from you guys. Compliments and thanks.
Nice preview! Good to hear that the enemies are pretty strong. I fear that the puzzles are very easy, since you can solve them in multiple ways. But we'll see!
However: Skyward sword and this......they couldn't be more apart!!!
Great read! I'm limiting myself to one 'piece' of Zelda media per day now until the release because my hype is literally out of control, so this was well worth my pick for the day! No spoilers but still lots of exciting details in there.
@samuelvictor Haha, that's actually pretty entertaining, man. Decent beat as well, and loved all the sound effects and references in your lyrics. The hadouken at the beginning had me cracking a big smile.
@Pazuzu666 Hindsight is perfect. It's easy to say that after the fact but we were coming off OOT and Majoras mask, and WW's previews looked like a child's cartoon.
@Alshain01 looked less like a child's cartoon and more a Studio Ghibli.
@Pazuzu666 Not the original preview material. It looked more like Dora the Explorer. Again, you are considering only the final game, not what we saw first.
@NEStalgia: I envy the fact that you were able to experience the original Legend of Zelda on the NES so many years ago. I've only played it on the Virtual Console. I really enjoyed the game, though I think it would have been better if I played it many years ago.
@Tyranexx Haha, yeah, it's one of those things that probably doesn't age as well as it seems if you didn't acclimate to it in its own time. It's still great, but like most 8-bit games, outside its own time it just seems a little plain (and brutally difficult!) But that "huge open world sandbox" concept was so breathtaking. A game without limits, timers or boundaries, was the ultimate in escapism
It may have been brown rectangle with green blobs on it, but darnit, I saw the trees of that forest! This time time around it will be a little easier though
@Alshain01 unless I'm remembering it wrong, disagree entirely.
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