It's pretty rare for Nintendo to do wrong when it comes to creating/developing an entry in one of their flagship series. It's also been somewhat of a prediction for the company to stick with what works in terms of formulas/elements that have made their franchises so well loved over the years. Breath of the Wild, the latest entry in Zelda's storied history sought out to "break the series' conventions"and really make the players discover every inch of the sprawling world of Hyrule. A true open-world experience, Breath of the Wild's vast landscapes give players a seemingly infinite selection of ways to approach various situations. Whether it's rolling boulders down a hill unto unsuspecting Bokoblins, or chopping down trees to make a bridge over a gap, this game really rewards you when you manage to figure out the situation at hand.
Breath of the Wild's story is sort of post-apocalyptic themed with the idea that Ganon has morphed into a being known as Calamity Ganon. As Link, you first wake up in a very technological shrine to soon learn past the game's tutorial area that you fell to the beast 100 years ago and were essentially healed/reborn. Hearing Zelda's voice in your head, you are tasked to head over to Hyrule Castle, confront Ganon and save Zelda before the former gains enough power to decimate Hyrule forever. Truthfully that's it in terms of story, the developers have stated that you could technically run up to the final boss and clear the game right when you start. Course that'd be both stupid and make the game incredibly short. So this Review is mainly talking about elements found in the story as a whole with its recommended route.
So right off the bat you're thrown into this world with nothing but the clothes from your Shrine, and what's known as the Sheikah Slate. That item becomes a hub for all your information, whether it's a quest log, viewing the map or your inventory, that's all the game has in terms of menu options. Most of my time in the game was spent in Pro view mode as recommended by another site to play in, and I did grow accustom to not having the info you see on the right. For reference, the Basic UI consists of your heart meter, shortcuts to changing your items and runes (more on that later), temperature, noise, and a mini map.
You'll probably already notice things that you haven't seen in a traditional Zelda before. The noise indicator is helpful when you want to sneak and surprise an enemy with a preemptive strike. The temperature changes based on the region you're in and can damage your health if you don't fix it. This is done via either the various clothing/armor you can wear or by cooking food and monster parts you find in the wild. That segues into a huge part of this game and it's collecting a crap ton of items. This includes weaponry and shields which you might be surprised to hear. Another convention broken is everything (with exception to obvious items) has a durability. Through usage in fights or even interacting with nature, your weapons will break though you can find plenty from enemies or weapons left from the tragedy that happened all those years ago.
Speaking of which, the combat is arguably one of the best parts of the game. It's also merciless, as enemies can take away 3-5 hearts in a single swipe. Unless you're a literal god at dodging/parrying, prepare to die A LOT in BotW. For myself, I'd estimate at least 100 deaths in my full play-through. 10-20 of which was on a boss that I didn't have to kill as I found out later from friends. The enemy AI is one of the smartest I've seen yet. Picking up weapons you drop, or reacting to stuff being thrown/lit on fire, the enemies adapt pretty quickly. The food you cook heals you instantaneously and you have a variety of foods to cook based on whatever materials you have. For instance did you know that a mighty banana, an apple and some meat result in Simmered Fruit? Me neither! In addition to your health, Link also has a Stamina wheel that depletes when gliding in the air, running and climbing (which you can do on literally anything). From what I remember in Skyward Sword, BotW's stamina is much more reasonable/forgiving.
Hearts and stamina can be increased through way of another big element in BotW and that's Shrines. These small huts are scattered throughout all of Hyrule and give you a break from the impending doom and quest you're going through. Puzzles make up each shrine and most utilize the runes you have on your Shekiah Slate. These range from bombs, freezing time, controlling magnetic objects and forming pillars out of ice using water. Some do utilize motion controls and that's the first criticism I have. As far as I know, no one likes motion controls on puzzles so it infuriated me that they were inserted here. Each shrine rewards you with some neat items (if you want them) and a Courage Orb. Collect and exchange 4 every time for an increase in your health or Stamina.
Every region also has a giant Tower which you can climb and activate for a full scan of the area for your map. These and completed shrines can be used for a handy fast travel option if you need to get to destination fast. Side quests are also offered if you know where to look as well as certain shrines having quests to uncover them. This by many other sites I've viewed is a first for Nintendo with assuming/treating it's long loyal fans as intelligent. I did the best I can in using online strategies as little as possible. Honestly it only came about in certain shrines that had me stumped and one dungeon.
Speaking of which, the dungeons are also minimal this time around. Taking a page out of Majora's Mask's book, 4 of them exist as integral to the story if you want to again play the game as intended by the developers. Other little tidbits in BotW include upgradable inventory, a camera option with selfie capability and a very angry lady who gets like that if you step on her damn flowers. The weather also interacts mainly with thunderstorms and lightning. Carrying metal weaponry makes you a lightning rod and can deliver devastating harm to you if you're not careful There's little music in the game also which is odd cause that's a regular strong suit of the franchise. Only in towns, occasional in the wild and riding horses (which you have to find and tame by the way). Oh and fighting enemies/dungeons of course too! By the time I cleared through the main story, I was honestly underwhelmed that the plot as a whole didn't pull me in as Zelda games usually do. This is also the first Zelda game to feature voice acting which was pretty fantastic being a first. The characters were all likable but the story as a whole was forgettable by the end. I have to guess that because the game is formulated as open-ended, it doesn't really all connect until you head to the final area. Back story is mostly played through remembered memories in one quest.
Despite these criticisms, I had an absolute blast in playing this and can understand all the accolades it's currently getting at the moment. Even if you manage to 100% all the quests, there's still a lot to do after you clear the main story. With DLC planned throughout the rest of the year, BotW has a healthy amount of post game content for you to enjoy. I at least know what I'm doing until the next big game releases for me to play. Nintendo sought out to "break the normal conventions of Zelda" with Breath of the Wild and I'm happy to report that it's exactly what they did. This isn't your traditional Zelda title, it looks to challenge you, only if you're ready for it.
Should you Play this Game?
Yes! Breath of the Wild is an achievement in many ways for Nintendo. Beautiful art style, fantastic combat and a wide range of puzzles/trials help outbalance the lackluster story. The music and characters are enjoyable as well.
