**No spoiler review**
At this point, I could never have imagined the game industry without this game. Every once in a while, a game comes out that just says what everyone is thinking subconsciously but cannot quite make out the words, an itch that needs to be scratched, that puts all the pieces together in entertainment culture and builds the foundation for the next age for the game industry. This is that game.
Gameplay: The limits have been lifted. There are almost no restrictions to the possibilities of engagement with the environmental situations. Remember how amazing the Metroid screw jump felt in Metroid Prime 2, flying for the first time in Mario 64, jumping through the web in the Deku tree in Ocarina of Time, etc. In those moments, you knew you had experienced something that would change you, that you were playing a game that reached far beyond what you thought was possible. Now imagine a game that applies that feeling to every element of the game. While diverging some from past Zelda mechanics, they are changes that encourage you to grow as a player and engage in your environment and as such could not have been any other way. Don't worry, it is very nicely balanced.
Music: Even the music approach has been redefined for this game. Eerie, peaceful, and epic. I do not think a single note in this game is synthesized and the sensation feels like the game is calling to you or empathizing with you. The music element is used in a way that is unlike anything you probably have experienced before, hearkening back to the complex music development in intellectual music of the 20th century. The best visual reference I can give is that the music feels like water hitting your skin, that is how tangible it is.
Graphics: When a design is this polished and revolutionary, graphics, while normally being the easiest to pinpoint, easily take more of a backseat, however this game has some of the most psychologically stimulating environments of any game in recent years. Graphics for this game cannot be discussed separate from gameplay as everything flows together in a near perfect fashion. The physics used in conjunctions with the models and layout of the map are immediately accessible and complex. Here are some examples of scope: The scope of the land is so vast and varied that every minute exploring provides an almost entirely different experience than the one just prior. A friend of mine is playing the game and while we have both been exploring the same areas, neither of us over the course of three days came across the exact same elements in the exact same way other than a town that the story led us both to. *In the overview of the world as seen in the picture on the box cover, every viewable (and not viewable) crevice is an entirely different world of exploration that is both gorgeous and fully interactive.
Design: Arguably the best quality of Breath of the Wild is how the elements come together. The expanse and themes, while Zelda, feel like they were taken out of the imagination of the renaissance 80s, a characteristic usually only touched on by unique cult-classic romps but here is fully realized in an immersive experience. The characters have such a unique and retro feel that they are both unsettling and comforting in the same breath. From the music to the landscape to the vocals and setting, this game truly brings together all the design elements in a masterful way.
CONS: (nit-picking; do not read this section) Amidst all of these amazing elements, there are a few potential improvements that could be made.
1) There are not voice-overs for all NPC dialog. This was a similar complaint that I had with the last 2 home console Zelda titles. If the production values on the game are high enough to immerse you as this title has done, all NPC lines should be voiced rather than only a few.
2) The obvious cloud shadows during high sun are so realistic that it makes you look up, however the clouds in the sky do not coincide with the shadows. Often I would expect to see a close cloud or a storm front coming in, and not have either.
3) Some powers suffer from quirky control mapping.
4) Simple textures and meshes often are crude for the sake of object and environment scope. Forgiveable, but noticeable.
5) The interactive detail in the game is so high that it is noticeable when Link's hands don't lineup with climbing elements or when objects quickly "transition" into items *cough* tree trunks *cough*
6) Greatly miss the presence of at least a few major in-ground elements or dungeons. Most of the world is the same "trial" format with huge surface landscapes.
7) More purpose, depth, and variety in the lives of the NPC characters that inhabit Hyrule. (As far as engine planning, this element could require as much preparation as the development of the world itself.)
8) Inability to change the view if needed. (When in a tree, avoiding being seen or fire from horseback bokoblins, the leaves and branches become too much of a visual obstruction from accurately shooting arrows or observing.
*All of these will likely improve or appear in future Zelda games overtime. Again, this game is the dawn of a new age and standard in game design.
I have not been as satisfied and amazed with a game as I am with Breath of the Wild since Nintendo 64. This game has the same feeling as the first arrival of Ocarina of Time, Mario 64, Link to the Past, Final Fantasy 7, Super Mario Brothers, and Super Mario World. Up until now, nothing had dethroned Majora's Mask, Metroid Prime, and Ocarina of Time as my best, new favorite experiences, despite having played the large expanse and epic battles of Shadows of the Colossus, the emotional play of Resident Evil 4, the new learning approach and vicarious interactions of The Last Guardian, and nearly every other major release from Bethesda, Naughty Dog, and more. This game has surpassed all of my prior memories and claimed its rightful place as the game that defines gaming. I never thought I would feel that level of amazement again in the industry, but it is here and it isn't even VR. Game design at it's finest and why Nintendo still remains the definitive development standard.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - US Version
4.8 | 53,310 ratings
Price: 52.94
Last update: 01-01-2025
About this item
Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequences
Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
Ingenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzles
Surprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and more
Live off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirs
Utilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
Product information
| Publication Date | March 3, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Max Number of Supported Devices | 1 |
| Computer Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00045496590420 |
| UPC | 045496590420 045496511234 |
| Compatible Video Game Console Models | Nintendo Switch |
| ASIN | B01MS6MO77 |
| Release date | March 3, 2017 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars
(53,310)
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #310 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #26 in Nintendo Switch Games |
| Product Dimensions | 10 x 2 x 2 inches; 1.76 ounces |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Language | English |
| Rated | Rating Pending |
| Item model number | SWSwitchTitle10 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 1.76 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Date First Available | January 13, 2017 |
Top reviews from the United States
KenThe Dawn of a New Age in Gaming
Kindle Customer