In a climate where AAA games are adverse to risk, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has arrived to show the world that new ideas are how games evolve.
Nintendo isn't playing it safe with the next Zelda. What is coming is familiar but full of bold ideas that could make it one of the grandest adventures of the generation. In the gallery below, we'll go over the five most significant changes that you need to know about.
5 Ways The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Is Different Than the Rest
-
Learning How To Climb
Link is no longer bound to the Earth by gravity and a lack of climbing skills. He's become a rock climbing master since you last saw him, allowing him to ascend walls and trees with no questions asked. That is, provided he doesn't run out of Stamina.
rn
rnLink's parkour skills further remove boundaries placed by previous Zelda games. In Breath of the Wild you have freedom to not only explore a large landscape, but circumvent obstacles using this new skill set. You can even climb over large enemies to irritate them before delivering a decisive flank attack. This skill set also introduces a new means of gameplay interaction, which will be a nice change of pace for Zelda veterans. -
Into the Vastness Of Open-World Space
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has long been the gold standard for how the series should function when it comes to open-world design. Although it deserves a lot of credit for being ahead of its time, it required players to complete areas in a certain order.
rn
rnBreath of the Wild believes in true open-world exploration. That means you can go just about anywhere from the get-go and achieve what you set out to accomplish provided you're skilled enough. I say just about anywhere because some places are naturally treacherous and therefore require you to arrive properly equipped (winter clothing for high altitude, for example).
rn
rnThe world isn't only populated with distinct areas, but there are 100 puzzle-filled dungeons and enemy encampments. It'll be up to you to decide where you want to go at any given time, and that true freedom is something that the series has simply never seen before. -
Survival Of the Fittest
The first thing many players try to do upon playing Breath of the Wild for their first time at E3 is cutting grass to find hearts. That simply won't work this time around.
rn
rnLink will instead need to survive the good old fashioned way: by gathering ingredients and cooking himself a good meal. You'll make use of items such as mushrooms that are found in the environment, taking them out of your limited inventory space to cook on campfires and in cauldrons.
rn
rnIt's worth noting that Link isn't succumbed by hunger, but rather food is used to regain lost health. Even then, it's a vital element of the game that you'll need to utilize early and often. -
Master of Weaponry
Link might be a master of swords, but he certainly knows how to use other weapons, too. Well, at least in the case of Breath of the Wild. This time around Link will have access to spears, axes, greatswords, and many other types of weapons, each of which will drop off enemies frequently.
rn
rnTo encourage varied use of weaponry, weapons will degrade through use. They can even be thrown at enemies if you're in a Ninja sort of mood. In response, you'll need to continue picking up weapons from enemies throughout the journey; there is no sticking to a single weapon here. This will require some adaptation from veterans of the series, but helps diversify combat in a significant way. -
Keep Your Eye On Weather Forecasts
Breath of the Wild's world can be hit by thunderstorms, snow, and arid heat, just like our own. The elements have an impact on how the game functions, and affect Link's survival in several ways.
rn
rnFor example, if you plan to head to higher altitude, then it's going to get chilly. Equip Link with thick layers of clothing or face hypothermia. When it rains, it pours, and that means campfires will be downright impossible to keep aflame. You'll need to come up with a solution for cooking food in such a situation.
rn
rnAs with the large arsenal of weapons, adaptation is the name of the game. You'll be at a great advantage if you know the keys to survival.
