karlsturdy
People were concerned when Nintendo announced that the only game they would be bringing to E3 is the new Legend of Zelda game. With a new mysterious console, codenamed NX, just around the corner and by relation a dying Wii u, the lack of games had people scared that Nintendo were taking a risk that couldn’t pay off. Having seen multiple hours of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild through their Treehouse Live presentation, I can say that I have never been more excited as a Nintendo fan than I am now.
Breath of the Wild is Nintendo’s most innovative game in the series since the classic Ocarina of Time, bringing a huge open-world and a sense of freedom that hasn’t been seen since the very original game in 1986. Over the course of the presentation, Nintendo emphasised the possibility of going wherever and doing whatever you want. Honestly, a Nintendo game has never offered this much freedom, while still maintaining what is great about the series.
The world is absolutely huge, featuring your classic Hyrule field area, now called the Plateau, as well as volcanic regions, snowy regions and desert regions. No matter where you are in the world, it is richly detailed maintaining the unique visual style of previous games like Skyward Sword or Twilight Princess. Traversing the world looks to be just as varied; you can ride on horseback, climb up cliff faces, or use the sailcloth to parachute across long distances, heading in any direction you like to complete quests in whatever order you wish.
The world is littered with Shrines of Trials, new mini-dungeons that will test your skills in order to receive rewards. Some may focus on using a certain skill or ability to solve a puzzle while others might rely on brute force to overpower a set number of enemies. With Nintendo promising over a hundred of these shrines to be found, Breath of the Wild seems to be the most diverse Zelda game ever.
How you survive in the world is a huge focus in Breath of the Wild. While previous games relied on giving you specific weapons and tools to overcome very specific challenges within the game, Breath of the Wild’s world is scattered with a range of items. Much like in an RPG, you will find equipment whilst you explore – you are able to find stronger equipment with different abilities that may help you. While typically, Link has always carried a sword, in this game you can find a range of weapons, whether it be clubs, swords, spears or axes. Each weapon obviously has its advantages; the sword is fast, but won’t necessarily deal as much damage as an axe. This mechanic is a first for the series, clearly taking inspiration from the vast number of open-world RPGs like Skyrim.
Link can also change his armour. While we have always been used to seeing Link wearing his classic green tunic, in this game he can find lots of different types of clothing. He can wear strong metal armour to protect him from attackers, sacrificing speed or when in cold regions you will need to wear quilted coats to protect you from the freezing climate. It is a fantastic idea, making the adventure feel more real as you need to ensure that Link is always suitably equipped for whatever challenge he must face.
Never before in the Zelda series has the adventure felt so real, as you explore the vast landscape in whatever way you wish, doing whatever you want. As you scavenge for equipment you constantly discover new items that will have different effects, truly capitalising on the traits of traditional RPGs while maintaining the core of the series. It looks to be worth the wait, pushing the boundaries of the Wii U to create one of the most interesting open world games in years and one of Nintendo’s best looking games. As Nintendo’s only game at E3, it is clear that the risk has paid off as fans will get to experience a new age for The Legend of Zelda.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings