Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Mod Adds Skyward Sword's Earth Temple Dungeon

I enjoyed the BotW formula, even without dungeons. To me it was more about exploration and interacting with this amazing world. I'd be fine with another one just like this !

I’ve always preferred the Zelda overworlds to the dungeons and thus I loved Breath of the Wild’s concentration on the land of Hyrule rather than the dungeons. I did kind of like how Skyward sword implemented some overworld areas as pseudo-dungeons. Maybe something like that could be implemented?

This is so sick. Honestly though I wasn't a huge fan of the Earth Temple, I wonder why the modder chose this one in particular. So many other great dungeons to choose from.

In any case, would love to see more traditional dungeons in BOTW2, it was the one thing really lacking from an otherwise fabulous game.

Ain’t gonna lie, getting a Switch Lite (have OG) just to mess with mods and things like these really makes me wonder.

Breath of the Wild is an incredible game. It does so many things perfectly, but the lack of large, traditional dungeons was a bit disappointing. Honestly I got bored with the shrines after a while, and after a certain point there wasn't much reason to even bother completing them since I already had more than enough health and stamina. That's my biggest complaint with Breath of the Wild: so much of it was optional with little or no real incentive or reward for completing all of the optional stuff.

I definitely hope the sequel sees a return of classic Zelda style dungeons.

Just blanked my save on BOTW to go again. Can't wait.

I prefer the shrines, personally. Dungeons are fine but they're hard to beat in one sitting sometimes, especially as the games have gotten bigger. I like being able to tackle the whole thing all at once, and I liked BOTW's focus on the overworld.

@Tibob
People are fixated on endless NPC babble and annoying linear puzzle filled dungeons in the same way the Zelda team was until Botw, if dungeons return I hope they focus more on action while having open ended puzzles like many shrines had rather than lock and key design puzzles

Ancient Cistern next?

I don't understand... how are shrines not dungeons?

Dungeons are just as important as an over world in the zelda formula. Shrines were unique in their function but didn't offer anything theatrical or thematic. They were basic puzzles while Dungeons are complex series of puzzles in a story. Dungeons are much more interesting. But breathe of the wild totally destroyed the story aspect of Zelda instead focusing on exploration and segmentEd gamepla you.

@J-Plap Because you complete most shrines in 5-10 minutes.
Dungeous could have took an hour or even more. Which is way more... in dept... I strongly prefere dungeons but in the end BotW is an absolute jackhammer of a game. Enjoyed it for multible hundreds of hours.

@J-Plap To me, shrines are concepts, whilst a dungeon is an amalgamation of concepts to create an area which is interesting and fun to explore; they feel as if more thought has been put in whilst shrines are one trick ponies.

@teko considering the majority of the jobs offers for the studio location where the sequel is being developed were for 3d/level designers positions, I hardly suspects more traditional "dungeons" of a sort will be almost confirmed for the sequel.

And considering such job offers specifically for those roles(which are generally put into action later rather than sooner in development) were already public for that location as early as last year... I suspect the sequel was already underway since longer than we think and likely will be coming earlier than we think as well.

Based on previous examples with other games I predict a november/December direct to reveal some more of the game.... and a 2020 release date.

Didnt really enjoy botw and dungeons being gone and replaced with shrines is one of the reasons botw experience was dampened for me. Hopefully Botw2 adds what a lot of people felt was missing from the first.

What do you mean "and now we want full dungeons in BOTW2"?

That absence of traditional dungeons was my only real gripe with BOTW. I'm praying they make it back into the hotly anticipated sequel.

@Ludovsky I'm not sure I understood the first part of your comment. Based on the job postings, you do think that the sequel will have more traditional dungeons?

Anyway, if they re-use the same engine and a lot of the same assets, which would be perfectly sensible in my opinion, then the sequel definitely could be coming fairly soon, maybe even next year as you predict.

tbh i would of enjoyed more dungeons while keeping the shrines. they could of made a bunch of dungeons each leading to some weapon that is unbreakable in the same sense that the master sword is and other equipment(including a a set that would let you scale the walls without hindrance in the rain.)

@teko Basically, yeah. I suspect more traditional dungeons or something similar will be included. It's already confirmed that the sequel will recycle(perhaps with small modifications) the overworld of BotW so positions for "level designers" would coincide nicely with the idea of them hiring new people to such positions specifically for the creation of dungeons for the sequel.

Can't wait for Anti-Matter to jump in crying about NintendoLife supporting hackers 😋

@Denoloco

Do those mods work on the actual Switch, or do you need to play the game on PC?

I’d definitely give the mods a go on my original Switch. Only when a Switch 2.0 or Pro model gets released though.

@The_Pixel_King

Yeah, I don’t know about most Zelda fans, but I always wanted true dungeons in BotW. Shrines are fine, but a Zelda game needs to have full dungeons. I’m all for change, but I don’t want Nintendo to take away my Zelda dungeons ever again.

Also, I want the hookshot to return. BotW2 could be so much fun if we could climb anywhere, but also speed up said climbing by using the hookshot for a quick boost.

Imagine the grappling hook from the Batman Arkham games, but able to be used anywhere in a BotW world. 😍😍

@teko well you could get some unique gear that can only be obtained by completing all the shrines, but you are right about lack of traditional dungeons.

@Shadowmoon522 Shrines vs dungeons, I'm good either way. But being able to climb in the rain? Now THAT is at the top of my wish list.

The first BOTW really needed a few dungeons, many of the shrines were excellent and I hope they stay but quite a few of them were terrible, with either just that one enemy in them or the puzzle being to get there. I love the game overall but the lack of real dungeons to explore kept nagging away at me throughout the experience

It would be awesome if the overworld had a shadow version, 2 games in one.

@Kimyonaakuma My thoughts exactly. Ancient Cistern was my favorite dungeon in Skyward Sword, though the Sandship (minus Tentalus) is a close second.

I would be fine with an overworld 1/4 the size of BotW's if it meant a return to traditional temples. If they can somehow shake up Hyrule enough to be unique to explore all over again, maybe disfigured by the dark energy seen in the trailer, with several temples, some tweaks or even the removal of item durability, and a return of unique items unlocked in temples like the hookshot etc, then this could really be the greatest game of all time. I'd kinda love to see masks make a return as well but I'm not counting on it.

Dungeons are so 2010! I'm currently playing A Link between Worlds, my first 'new' Zelda since Breath of the Wild, and the only thing that has dated a bit in my opinion are the dungeons. They're too contrived! You can't satisfy everyone I guess

I’m planning to buy BotW on the Wii U (I have the Switch version) just so I can use mods without fear of messing up my Switch.

Proper dungeons in BotW is right up my alley.

ah good old days of skyward sword the game that no one cares about besides the real zelda fans like me.

@Mr_Persona There are not real Zelda fans that care as well. Id say more die hard zelda fans dislike this game.

@Ardisan
they're is real zelda fans who knows about a lot of loz and plays all the games or knows the story to all of them.
The ppl who likes botw are mostly not true zelda fans. I meet a lot of real zelda fans, and they always never liked botw. So l already know there are ppl who doesn't like botw and others who doesn't know what skyward sword is. The end, bye

The shrines are great. But there is something epic about dungeons and the bosses at the end. And that you need to finish them to proceed the story.

It makes me think there should be a Zelda Dungeon Maker, with classic Zelda and 3D Zelda as options. You could get it off the shelf with NES Zelda, A Link to the Past, and Ocarina of Time/Majora’s Mask assets, then maybe some good DLC that offers classic Link’s Awakening, Link Between Worlds/New Link’s Awakening, and a Breath of the Wild pack. Of course maybe gently blend in stuff from Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword into BotW and OoT, so there aren’t too many choices and each game yield an original experience. Maybe give Wind Waker and the GBA and DS games their own pack... but its starting to be too much. Lol. But that would be a wild Zelda Maker. That combined with Mario Maker, just sell your legs and your other systems. You won’t need them. I guess its only a matter of time and they’re experimenting with this on the new Link’s Awakening. It was an actual consideration in the first Zelda. So yeah. Its just a matter of time. Hopefully before I’m in my 40s. I’m with you NLife. BotW 2 needs real dungeons. I’d have loved exploring BoTW to stumble into a well hidden “Great Palace,” featuring fresh new enemies lying in wait, and the hookshot as my reward. Then maybe an actual water temple that rises from one of those dead villages after Link plays a recorder, to finally earn Iron Boots to explore all the underwater places and grab fish from the whole game. So many things BotW was missing, but I still loved it. Still did everything, maxed all my gear and slots, Master Cycle, beat all the bosses and got medallions. I guess I was hoping to find these places I mentioned after beating all the shrines.

@Tyranexx Couldn't agree more! Those dungeons were amazing. I feel like they might be too complicated to bring into BotW but who knows.

...I'm quite tempted to make remastered versions of these dungeons now seeming as Skyward HD hasn't happened

Griping about dungeons in BOTW again? I though the game presented some pretty interesting puzzles in the shrines. I agree they could have had different interiors and been a bit more challenging but I’m fine with the new style.

@Mr_Persona I get some people don’t like BOTW, but I don’t think they are the best people to ask where the series should next. I’ve been playing Zelda since LTTP and although I feel they could have improved, BOTW still one of the standout experiences on any platform this generation. Traditional Zelda or not, it’s one of the most absorbing games ever designed.

@Kimyonaakuma IMO, the Switch would be the perfect platform for a Skyward Sword HD remaster in a couple of years. Even more so than the Wii U, though it's technically available on there.

@VR32X that will be a work out!

@Mr_Persona I kinda feel like the idea of it is overwhelming, but it would be a monstrous thing if it ever released. Maybe they’ll give it to us in small dosages. Like there should be player made shrines and dungeons that pop up in certain places, that refresh in BotW 2. Nothing too over-the-top or mandatory, but a neat touch. I’m sure whatever we get will be great though.

I don't see any reason why we can't have both the amazingness of BOTW with some traditional dungeons as well. They almost had it with the beasts in BOTW but they could flesh that out more.

I’m not sure the “traditional” OOT-style dungeon based around a key item and a gimmicky puzzle boss will work in the new formula.

What I think would be better is to have more large shrines like they had in the DLC. There were a lot of shrines that had a single short puzzle with a mechanic that was never developed on, either in that shrine or elsewhere.

I'm a real Zelda fan and I didn't play a single Zelda game between Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild.

I just hope they put in a decent armoury who can make weapons that don't break so frequently...

Oh, and some variety in the enemy creatures would be pretty cool.

And maybe a 'I don't have lots of free time' mode, which highlights a decent path through the adventure. In other words, I'm so lost!!!

@VR32X well if your talking about a pixel kind of type then it won't be to hard. But man l don't think nintendo can make a game like that for the switch, cause the switch isn't very good at handling big games sometimes. But maybe when switch is over and they make a console that can handle really big games like the ps4, then they can make a Zelda maker!

@Denoloco this is for pc, there’s a Wii U emulator that runs this game at higher resolutions and 60fps. The modding is not possible on the switch.

Lol, what did I say. I was more talking about Skyward Sword (my bad not yours) but id say the same applies to botw when you think about it.

SS's misnamed Earth Dungeon is really good. It must be nice to play through without having to use Skyward's crappy motion controls.

@Leuke Its a big adventure game, your not supposed to play through it in one sitting.

This looks really fun! I'd love to try this.

If you don't want true dungeons in the next Zelda game, you're not an actual Zelda fan. Breath of the Wild was absolutely amazing, but WAS missing proper dungeons. Add that, and it's Zelda perfection.

Very impressive!