Its objectively better than BOTW and a technical and game design marvel, but I can't help but feel like it could have been even better.
The story in the game's present is bland and cookie cutter, and you get basically the exact same cutscene for each keeper of the secret stones. The lack of acknowledgement of the previous game save for some extremely hidden easter eggs is also disappointing, with most NPCs not recognizing you. Given the continuity of the game, its assumed that Link canonically only did main quest missions and Hateno and Tarrey Town quests, which sucks for those who wanted to see people react to Link like an actual hero instead of just another nobody again, and for everything they did in Breath of the Wild to be retconned. The lack of towers and shrines also makes no sense. The game implies that the towers and shrines went back into the ground, but I would expect to see at least some proof of them existing in the first place. It really felt like Nintendo wanted the experience to be almost totally separate from Breath of the Wild, which is bad for fans of the previous game.
However, the story is effective regardless, if you ignore the above points.
Everything else is a massive step forward. Shrine design, powers, weapons, story (except for secret stone bearers), visuals dungeon design, progression, collectibles, it's all improved 10 fold.
It might sound like this game would be disappointing for fans of Breath of the Wild, and I can't help but feel that to some degree, but the game is as I said, an 11 out of 10 for an important reason:
It successfully recaptures the magic of playing Breath of the Wild for the first time again. All of the intrigue is still there. Everything is changed so much that the world feels almost brand new despite my 700 hours in Breath of the Wild, and I can't wait to start my 2nd playthrough of Tears of the Kingdom once school is done beating me into a depressed pulp.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch (US Version)
4.9 | 22,585 ratings
Price: 54.95
Last update: 01-10-2025
About this item
Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!.Energy-Efficient Ethernet : Yes
Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
Product information
| Number of Players | Single System (1) |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | May 12, 2023 |
| Max Number of Supported Devices | 1 |
| Computer Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00045496597092 |
| UPC | 045496597092 045496511340 |
| Compatible Video Game Console Models | Nintendo Switch |
| ASIN | B097B2YWFX |
| Release date | May 12, 2023 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars
(22,504)
4.9 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #134 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #11 in Nintendo Switch Games |
| Product Dimensions | 5.91 x 0.79 x 7.48 inches; 1.76 ounces |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Language | English |
| Rated | Rating Pending |
| Item model number | 112383 |
| Item Weight | 1.76 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Date First Available | June 14, 2021 |
Top reviews from the United States
EunaAn almost reluctant 11 out of 10
VincentList of What’s New. More Exploration and Creativity
Vincent
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2023
World is more expansive: There’s the Great Plateau (old Breath of the Wild map) with slightly altered environments due to gloom infection, the sky city, and the depths (huge underground cave network below hyrule). Smoke and highlighted light pillars shows points of interest in the overworld without having to look at the map
Weapon durability is back. I know some people don’t like breakable items/weapons, but it teaches kids to be more adaptable rather than have constant/sustainable gains all the time. Also helps them be more creative in the fusing items together. Items are less scarce this time around giving you more opportunities to experiment with new combinations
Still have freedom to be creative and do what you want. Can think of creative ways to cheat the puzzle with new abilities instead of the intended way of doing it, making the experience your own. Gives you the ‘I don’t think we are supposed to do that, but it worked!’ moments
Temples return. Each one have a companion character which grants you special abilities for that temple/dungeon. Bosses at end of temples are really powerful and not just simple advanced moving puzzles
-Menu/UI is more streamline.
Inventory tabs can be changed via L1 R1 trigger instead of thumbstick. No need to go through multiple pages to get to the next tab. Instead you scroll down if you have a lot of items
Settings is at the end of inventory tab instead of a separate page
Able to view recipes on sub menu for each item
-Story/Plot:
Link and Zelda is exploring a unknown area under hyrule castle. They accidentally awaken an mummy and he uses gloom ability to attack them. Link arm and master sword gets infected during initial battle, and the mummy released gloom infecting hyrule. There’s a huge quake and Link both get separated during the scuffle. You wake up and go on a quest to find Zelda, re-forge the master sword and save hyrule.
Story is the most expansive than any other Zelda title focusing a lot of character development
Like Breath of the Wild; there’s limited voice acting and not fully voiced. But that doesn’t detract from the experience
--- Abilities
1. Ultra Hand
Use this to lift large heavy object and fuse them together. Can use it to solve puzzles lifting heavy objects to build bridges, ramps, ladders, etc) but also use as a vehicle creator for traversal. It’s very similar to Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts vehicle creator. Vehicles you create use fuel/battery to operate, collecting/using zonai charges refuels your vehicle giving you the ability to travel longer distances especially when creating gliders. You can also upgrade maximum battery as you progress through he game. Note that our creation despawns if you’re too far away from it, so best not abandon it
2. Merge items
Fuse any two items together in inventory. Mainly use to create weapons with different properties (higher attack, range, elemental damage etc) and increase durability. Seeing weapon durability is back gives players ways to experiment and be resourceful with what they have in their inventory
During combat you’re able to able to throw individual items
3. Asend
Able to teleport to above flat platform when directly under it. Some areas are restricted if it’s too high. The cursor on your screen when using ability turns green to indicate if it’s possible to ascend or not
4. Recall
Rewind time for a brief second. Great for puzzle solving like climbing up a rock that fell off the cliff and rewind time to ride it up
5. Auto build
Able to re-create previous creations you made with ultra-hand. Just have all items in one spot and use ability to re-create it instead of starting from scratch
6. Amiibo
Similar to last game, you can in amiibo daily and items will fall in front of you. Amiibo give armor skins, fabrics, and other common items. No exclusive content from Amiibos this time. Able to obtain them via quests. Scanning amiibos just give you them early and more items daily. Disappointed the wolf link amiibo doesn’t give you wolf companion like the last game
7. Camera
Basically an ability to take pictures to fill out the hyrule compendium
Overall extremely fun game giving you freedom to explore and be creative. Best Legend of Zelda game to date.
Images in this review
William Givens