[19/03/17] Game Review - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[Sorry for the two-week hiatus; this post was the reason why it happened!]

HELLO, EVERYBODY! Today, I review a game that has been three years in the making. It also happens to be the BIGGEST game I have ever played in my life! So without any further delays… let's begin this Game Review!

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017, Wii U & Switch)

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

Overview

Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game that has been in development for about three and a half years! The main focus of making it was to rethink the conventions of Zelda - so you can't just get money anymore by chopping down grass; you have to sell items to the right people or be lucky to find Rupees in chests.

Plot

(Let me explain that this is immensely condensed - the first two paragraphs take about an HOUR!)

The game begins with Link waking up in the Shrine of Resurrection with no memory of who he is or where he is. Venturing outside, he finds an old man. Eventually, he goes to a strange-looking spot... where a huge tower bursts out of the ground! Similar towers burst out of the ground in other places and the old man appears again to explain things. He then offers Link his paraglider to get off of the Great Plateau he's on… for treasure. Specifically, the treasure found in the four shrines dotted around the plateau.

After completing the shrines and a short puzzle, the old man reveals himself to be the ghost of King Rhoam, the last King of Hyrule before it was ruined. He then introduces Calamity Ganon, the latest form of the series' traditional villain, who's basically evaporated.

…Oh, and he's being contained by Princess Zelda within Hyrule Castle. King Rhoam suggests for Link to go to Kakariko Village to the east… before disappearing. (And giving him the Paraglider!)

There, Link meets Impa, a member of the Sheikah tribe who dedicated themselves to protecting Hyrule's royal family. She explains to him about the legend of Calamity Ganon, and how the Guardians - who are basically giant spider-like things that shoot you whenever they see you - were originally created to PROTECT the hero. But 100 years before the events of the game, Ganon appeared and took control of them - and also the four Divine Beasts that were created for the same purpose. So, as expected, Link is tasked with retaking the Divine Beasts so they can be used against Ganon.

Link goes to the four regions marked on his map and meets four races - the Zora, the Gorons, the Gerudo and the Rito - who all have huge problems thanks to the Divine Beasts causing trouble. But they are all retaken, and the hundred-year-old spirits of the Champions who piloted them are released to pilot them again.

It's an evil lizard… thing.
(Technically, it's Divine Beast Vah Rudania, but where's the fun in that?)

In the process, Link also recovers his lost memories and happens upon the Korok Forest, where the legendary Master Sword is kept. After becoming strong enough (in gameplay terms, 13 hearts of health), Link is able to pull out the Master Sword (it even makes its own space in his limited inventory!)

At the top of Hyrule Castle, Link finally sees Calamity Ganon up-close… and he really doesn't look good.

Of course, I was too engrossed in the game to get a screenshot during his FIRST phase, so, uh…
I hope this suffices?

Since we're going by the intended route here, the four Divine Beasts fire upon Ganon and reduce his health to half! It and Link battle, until…

They still find a way to include Ganon's boar-like form - even if he's literally made of hatred!

So Link takes the Bow of Light from Zelda and begins to fire away at and glowing points on Ganon's body - before firing one at the giant eye on his forehead. Zelda is released and finally seals Ganon away…

I love how they did this - it makes it feel even MORE satisfying to beat the game.

And so, after a quick two conversations between Zelda and Link (of course, Link's not doing any talking!), the game ends on a pan over a field of flowers… that are all Zelda's favourite flower.

It's a REALLY beautiful shot… perfectly captures the peace in the scene!

So, with all that in mind, I give this game's plot…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm in awe of how involved each character is with the plot, how vast it is and basically every element of the plot is incredible. No wonder it took three-and-a-half years to make!

Gameplay

The gameplay of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is also remarkable. Gone are the days of mowing down the grass when you're in need of health or money - now you have to do it all yourself. Money is quite simple; just sell materials to shops, find it in chests or receive it as rewards.

Health, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. You can gather health-restoring materials on your travels, but if you don't prepare it, you'll miss out! In a pinch, you can roast something by placing it on a fire (or the ground if you're near Death Mountain) and waiting a while. But that still isn't the best way - you can cook up to five ingredients in a cooking pot, with each doing something different. For example, you cook a Hearty Radish and it gives you temporary extra health, or a Stamella Shroom and it restores some of your stamina.

Speaking of which, the stamina meter has returned from Skyward Sword - it's used for running, swimming, gliding, climbing and taming wild horses. However, it can be upgraded this time, to a maximum of three full circles. And then, speaking of upgrades…

There are 120 Shrines scattered throughout Hyrule, each having a different puzzle, like fighting a strong enemy or altering water levels. When completed, each gives a Spirit Orb - four of them can be traded in for an increase in health or stamina. (Oddly, there aren't enough shrines to maximise both - the game is twelve short!)

It must be an interesting experience being a talking statue…

Sections are filled in on the map by going to the fifteen Sheikah Towers scattered across the world. Each presents a unique puzzle to climbing it, with the exception of the Great Plateau Tower. These can range from being surrounded by a bog with wind blowing away [Wasteland Tower] to having a Guardian on either side ready to shoot you [Central Tower].

Monsters are no longer found just anywhere (well, usually. Chuchus, skeletal enemies and later members of the Yiga Clan (a clan of Sheikah who've turned to evil) all appear randomly.) Generally, they're found in encampments - which can sometimes have treasure chests that unlock after all of the monsters are defeated!

When the moon turns red, take heed - monsters will return to life at midnight!

Fighting has been given an overhaul, too. Enemies are now much smarter than before - for example, they will set wooden weapons on fire to increase their effectiveness and will pick up any weapons they can find as well.

And if you time a dodge right, you get to beat them... in slow motion.

Of course, the enemies REALLY getting the spotlight are the Guardians.

They're half six-legged spider, half Cottas from Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush.

There are four types (five counting the Sentries from the Divine Beast Vah Rudania stealth segment.) The four main types - Decayed Guardians, Guardian Stalkers, Guardian Turrets and Guardian Skywatchers - all shoot lasers at you and are virtually invincible. But they can be defeated - if one spots you, an Ancient Arrow can be fired into its eye, defeating it instantly!

I was SO happy when I read this description!
…Never mind that you have to carry a torch past a Guardian to get them in the first place.

It's slightly odd to casually glide over an active volcano. Just slightly!

Gliding is a huge part of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and allows you to get to places far away or break falls. But there are other types of movement, like horse-riding and shield surfing!

Usually, shield surfing reduces your shield's durability, but not during rain or on snow.

There are, of course, warm areas and cold areas. But if you aren't equipped with the right gear, you will take damage (or in the case of Death Mountain, burst into flames and then take very rapid damage.)

Oh, and weapons now break - so you'll have to think about whether or not you really need to use that super-strong weapon.

So I think I'll give the gameplay of Zelda: Breath of the Wild…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazing. That's all I can say about the gameplay - it's utterly INCREDIBLE! No wonder it took three-and-a-half years to make!

Replay value

Ah, yes. This is the point where Zelda games almost always fail. But not this one!

Despite the fact I put exploration over the main quest and completed as many shrines as I could, after beating the game, the fancy new progress tracker I got… well, take a look for yourself.

It read 14.22%. I have never had so much to do in a game!

There is still an enormous number of sidequests for me to complete, so… there's still a long way to go!

So based on that, I can give this game's replay value the score of…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have no idea when I'll be finished with Breath of the Wild! Even its sidequests are huge in number! No wonder it took three-and-a-half years to make!

So then, if we add together every score I gave this game, we get...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Zelda: Breath of the Wild is amazing in virtually every way. If you're looking in to getting it, I highly recommend it - it's brilliant!

Anyways, that is all I have to share with you today. So I'll see you next Sunday on this same blog! Bye for now!