Hello Enthusiasts,
Today I am going to be reviewing the newest game in one of Nintendo's longest running series', The Legend Of Zelda. The newest title, Breath Of The Wild, released in March of 2017 for both the Wii U and Nintendo's newest console, the Switch. I played this game on the latter of those two systems, so my review will be based on that version. As always, the will be some Spoilers Below.
The game starts out with our long time hero of the series, Link, waking up from a slumber in a pool of water. This chamber where Link had taken his water nap is apparently a chamber with regenerative properties, and has been allowing our hero to heal from a great battle 100 years ago. He wakes to find that he has no memories of the past and the kingdom of Hyrule is in a bad state. Princess Zelda has been fighting off Gannon's newest form (newest to us, it's been the same for that 100 years that Link has been asleep), known as Calamity Gannon, and she is starting to lose the battle of holding him back. It is Link's job to finish off the beast once and for all, though he is going to need to do some prep work first. And so Link sets off to explore this big open world, gaining access to better weapons and armor, as well as unlocking the "Divine Beasts" to assist him in taking out the threat to the world.
This is a completely open-world adventure for Link, and the first of its kind for the series. You can, if you want to, finish up the starting Plateau and go right for Hyrule Castle to fight Gannon, though you would be missing out on a lot of course. The Divine Beasts don't need to be unlocked in any particular order, and the number if things that can done in the world is impressive. There is dynamic weather throughout the game, though different environments will experience certain weather patterns more frequently. Certain areas also have inherit environmental conditions that need to be taken into account as well. The Volcano area will require you to prepare for extreme temperatures that can cause you to actually catch on fire, the desert is hot in the day and cold at night, and there is a snow-covered mountain range that is, of course, very cold. There are regular rain storms, which can make climbing near impossible, and thunderstorms that will strike you with lightning if you have anything metal equipped. There are a few towns and more friendly areas, but most of the map is, as is hinted in the title, the wild and open spaces of Hyrule. The map is built with a lot of detail, and you can travel to almost any area or landmark you can see.
So what are some of the positives in this game? Well, to start, you have the controls themselves. The controls, while they may take a little getting used to, are set up well and can become second nature by the time you leave the first section of the game. The fighting in the game can be difficult to get the hang of, but does use some nice mechanics of attacking, blocking, and dodging. I have heard a lot of complaints about the weapons and shields breaking too fast, and some of them do, but I feel that it adds to the fighting of the game. Having to decide what weapons are worth what battle brings another layer to the fighting. I think that the greatest merit to the game is the level of detail that goes into everything, including some small things that you can do in the game. You can slide on your shield down hills, create a fire to cause an updraft for your glider, cook a large variety of dishes, and too many other fun things to list.
It is likely easier to list out the negatives of the game and let you find more things to love om your own. Really, the only noteworthy thing to say against the game is the final battle with Gannon. Considering the difficult bosses and creatures throughout the game, one would think that the final battle would be a real challenge. However, Gannon is not difficult at all. If you go into that final battle with a guardian shield, a fully charged Master Sword, and about 5-6 cooked meals to heal hearts, you'll be fine. This was one of two boss battles I didn't die during the course of, and that is disappointing. It really didn't feel like I used everything I learned throughout the game.
Despite a weak ending though, this game has a whole lot to offer. If you have either system, you need to pick this one up. I have friends that haven't played or enjoyed a Legend of Zelda game before, and they fell in love with this one.
While playing the game, I would have said this is a solid 10/10, but after reflecting and taking into account that last battle, I'm giving Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild a 9.5 out of 10.
Sincerely,
The Board Enthusiast
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