E3 2016: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Is a Breath of Fresh Air

Today marks a significant day for fans of The Legend of Zelda. Following years of development and anticipation, Nintendo has lifted the veil off its next iteration of the series. It's being called The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and it's quickly absorbed a significant portion of the spotlight at this year's E3.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has a grand adventure in-store that offers exploration of Zelda's largest landscapes yet. Its open world is rich with varied locales, including canyons, meadows, and the puzzle-laden dungeons that Zelda fans live for. Each of these locations are interconnected, allowing Link to traverse through the landscape in explorative fashion, using his trusty steed and adept climbing skills to cover ground quickly.

Survival has been a big buzzword at this E3, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has become part of the discussion. Unlike its predecessors, this time around Link fights for his life as he gathers ingredients to cook in an effort to recover lost health and uses his surroundings as an instrument. There are many examples of this, from setting grass aflame with his torch, to trapping enemies with displaced beehives, and pushing boulders off ridges to crush unsuspecting enemies below.

Link's armaments will stray from their traditionally static nature, instead taking hits to durability until they are no longer useful. Therefore, Link will need to strip enemies of their weapons to use against them. These weapons will range from greatswords to swords, and shields to bows. He'll be able to adapt to his surroundings to a remarkable degree making him a dangerous force to be reckoned with.

So, it's fair to say that the next Zelda game has many novel ideas for offering something that feels different than past releases. Even then, it's still Zelda, the heartwarming, beautiful series that is beloved by millions.

There's a lot more to say about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You can expect additional write-ups soon once we spend more time with the game.