Last week I wrote about all the things I thought Breath of the Wild missed. So it’s only right that I would come back with all the things BOTW did right!
Open World
This is probably the one point that so many Legend of Zelda fans agree on, BOTW is the BEST open world LOZ has seen to date. Even through the wake of destruction Calamity Ganon left, there is so much to see and explore in the world. There are established towns, intact bridges, and islands you can go see. I love how there are so many Easter eggs and references to past games. For example, if you travel to the Zora Domain, you can see a nod to Majora’s mask in the form of the Lulu, Mikau, and Toto lakes which were all a part of the Indigo-Go’s.
Another of the most memorable moments for me is when you first come out of the Shrine of Resurrection, Link runs to the edge to view the vast landscape that is Hyrule. For those that don’t know the Shrine of Resurrection is where Link has been for the last 100 years, but I don’t want to ruin to much as I want you to play the game for yourself. But when you play the game you will get to do so much! Never have we seen a game where you could climb a mountain, a statue, or fly to an island. BOTW has opened the doors for the future of LOZ games. So please Nintendo take your time on BOTW 2 as I want to have just as much to run, climb, and jump off of in this new installment.
Cooking
This was one of the highlights of the game for me. I loved cooking in the game so much! It does take a minute to get the hang of making foods with a particular property, or to perform a certain way. But man once I figured it out, I could make anything. I loved being able to cook the meat I hunted, and bake with the ingredients I bought at the stores. Nothing excited me more than hearing the sound that I created a new dish. It wasn’t until I was preparing to face Calamity Ganon that I took notice of the type of tonics I needed. It was cool seeing which fruits, veggies, and monster parts I needed for the right combination to make the right tonic that would yield the best.
Character development
There are a lot of memorable characters in BOTW. From the Champions to the princess herself, Zelda they had an impact on how we viewed the relationships Link had. While I wasn’t completely sold on this new Zelda, I can’t ignore how the developers really gave an effort to give her a voice. She was more than just a princess who needed rescuing, but she played an active role in helping Link destroy Calamity Ganon. But let the record show I am now and forever #TeamMipha and this Zora princess deserved more.
Speaking of character development, can we acknowledge how Link had grown through the entirety of the game? Link started off as a man with lost memories searching for ways to survive this new walk of life he’s been afforded. Through the stories of each champion and Zelda, we get to see Link make friends, deal with the weight of his calling, and deal with his own insecurity. Now you have to admit, to get all of these emotions from a character that rarely utters words is an awesome feat. I thought it was so cool to learn about Link as a person and not just a nameless warrior used to fight Ganon. Link was an actual person in the world and he mattered greatly.
I could on and on about the greatness of Breath of the Wild. One last quick mention is how easy it is to learn the game mechanics. I really think the developers wanted Breath of the Wild to serve as a fresh start to those who are not regular LOZ fans. If this is the start of a new time, I cant’ wait to see what Nintendo does with the series and how it will continue.
Welp, that’s all for this post and I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what your favorite part of Breath of the Wild is and I’ll see ya’ll later! Peace!
