The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
I foundThe Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wildcaptivating in a way that the franchise has n’t sincerely deal before or since , although I still stay hopeful that a futureZeldagame will retake that experience . It is fairish to say thatBOTWhas had an Brobdingnagian influence on the franchise , and is arguably one of its most significant titles to date . Of of course , that level of success may not be easy replicable for a variety of factors , but prospect of its charm may still reappear in future titles regardless .
When it first released , BOTWpresented a far larger and more elaborate version of Hyrule than ever before , and understandably became vastly successful . In many way , BOTWis even the Nintendo Switch ’s set secret plan , being both a major launching title of respect for the console table and a gross demonstration of what it was capable of . Of of course , theSwitch 2 will have its ownZeldagamesas well , but no matter what var. they take , I trust that at least one will revive a key part ofBOTW .
Exploring The Unknown Is A Powerful Aspect Of BOTW
Hyrule Is Full Of Unique Discoveries Waiting To Be Made
From the outset , what expunge me the most about playingBreath of the Wildwas how much of the world was a closed book to me . Despite there being many familiar landmarks and even characters , there was also so much more that I had never encountered before . As well as make Hyrule so much bigger than it ever had been before , the developers were also able to fill it with a level of detail that would previously have been out of the question . Because of this , so much ofBOTW ’s Hyrule is a fresh and new worldto explore .
The right-down thrill of exploring Hyrule and discovering more about this expansive version of the kingdom was a huge draw for me . Being just as lost as Link was in Hyrule made it an extremely immersive experience , as it meant I learned about the world at the same pace that he did . And given the much - expand design of Hyrule inBOTW , this intend thatfor as much as I recognized as established elements of the serial , enough more was completely unknown to me ; something that I believe plays a secure part inBOTW ’s prayer .
The Legend of Zelda should change its approach to Link ’s capabilities and weaken them to raise the level of challenge ply in its next championship .
Of of course , much of this whodunit was then fall back inTears of the Kingdom , as the sequel ’s very nature guarantees that much of Hyrule is now familiar terrain despite the change it has undergone sinceBOTW . For me , this is dead on target despiteTOTK ’s function being much larger thanBOTW ’s , as the effectuation of the Sky and Depths feel more like additions to the same pedestal Hyrule than anything else . Both new areas of the world are still fun to explore , of course , but the burden kingdom itself is still much the same .
BOTW’s Open-World Design Reintroduced Hyrule As A Living Place
The Game’s Many Details Make The Kingdom Feel More Real Than Ever Before
The initially - obscure parts ofBOTW ’s Hyrule can create some truly spectacular minute . Early on in my own playthrough I randomly glimpse Farosh ’s tail disappearing over the edge of a nearby clifftop , and immediately dropped everything in my attempt to find out what I had seen . Of course , when I reached the top Farosh had proceed on and I found nothing , which was arguably even better . In this way , BOTWleft me with the singular experience of knowing that something Brobdingnagian was out there , and birth no mind what .
The posterior find that dragons subsist in this interlingual rendition of Hyrule conduct to an incredible import of realization for me regarding this cryptid - like encounter , with Naydra ultimately being the first dragon that I see in full .
In addition to this , I constantly noticed picayune denotation to past game , such as variouslocations inBOTWbeing Easter ball . At the same time , I was sure that there also were plenty of references that I did n’t understand , a hunch that later online research easily try out . However , that was far from a letdown ; alternatively , this feeling only deepen the free weight of Hyrule ’s history , suggesting its landscape painting was full of long - forgotten memories of its past . As a result , I feel like I was search the ‘ real ’ Hyrule in its integrality for the first time .
Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
The wide-cut range of possible encounter and discoveries inBOTWis arguably only possible due to it being an open - world plot , with more runniness and room for minor details than a more traditional top - down RPG may be able to provide . The open - world format also couple perfectly withBOTW ’s focus on being able to freely search at one ’s own pace , which is what made many of my own experiences possible . It throw its version of Hyrule feel alive in a fashion that few other game in the franchise can oppose .
Locations Outside Of Hyrule Can Be Presented As Similar Unknowns
Despite its surface - level conversancy , heavy wrapping of Hyrule were a gross mystery during my initial playthrough ofBOTW , a design choice that created a unparalleled experience that I thoroughly enjoyed . Of course , I can never truly relive that sense of uncovering an entire humans inBreath of the Wild , as I already know it , andTears of the Kingdomis likewise affected . However , theZeldafranchise could still replicate this incredible experience in the future by break other preferences a similar treatment .
There are countless chance and potentialfeatures for a Modern open - worldZeldagame , but arguablythe best trait ofBOTWcan only be replicated by broadening allege secret plan ’s horizon to beyond Hyrule ’s border . BOTW(and by extensionTOTK ) have provide a definitive unresolved - world translation of the realm , but there are far more configurations that can still be built up in the same means , such as Labrynna and Holodrum , as well as the ever - present opening of a new stage setting altogether . This would once again place Link in an entirely new world for both the hero and the histrion to research together .
If The Legend of Zelda ever wants to have another groundbreaking entryway like Ocarina of Time or BOTW , it needs to move away from Hyrule .
slow uncovering a newfangled world inBreath of the Wildcaptivated me in a way that has stayed with me ever since , and I affectionately desire that the franchise will eventually regain a way to replicate that feeling . Of course , Hyrule is course the most popularZeldasetting , so this may not happen for a foresightful metre , but it also seems inevitable that the enfranchisement will one day produce an clear - existence game plant elsewhere . When this does happen , I hope that it provides the same constant sense of wondrous find thatThe Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wilddid .
