The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the first time Nintendo has ever developed an open world scenario for a monumental and crucially important franchise. It makes sense, though: Zelda is a complex mish-mash of lore, combat, mystery, and puzzles; a medley of mechanics and narrative structure so intricately intertwined that every Zelda game is almost a gaming touchstone.
Breath of the Wild, if you couldn't already tell, is a big deal for both Zelda loyalists who have played every title in the franchise's history, or those whose last Zelda experiences stretch back a few generations. It's being suggested that the game is so different, yet vastly familiar.
'Legend Of Zelda' Traditions
In Breath of the Wild, Zelda's signature descent of hush looms rampant, with the world scented by mostly bucolic openness, with mannerisms aplenty — monsters, shrines, crumbling edifices deck the landscape, all accounting for an incipient foreboding of a world in ruins. But that's just what you can glean from the preview, because early reviews have noted that the world is indeed massive, for all intents and purposes of that word, hinting that there's so much more to see.
A Brave 'Zelda'
EuroGamer's first impressions of the game accounted for its bravery, in terms of scope, scale, and evident aberrations from hardwired Zelda formats.
"It's very brave of the developers of such a popular series, with a 30-year history, to take it in such a new direction — a direction which sometimes seems to have as much in common with Monster Hunter or Skyrim as it does Zelda."
Zelda, like any big-name games, has its traditions, and these things are often what fans look for in every series entry. It's cinematic, for one, that's a given. Even Shigeru Miyamoto's experiences that led to the creation of Zelda — that of wandering in the forests of Japan as a child — is ripe fodder in which cinema can be birthed from.
The miscellany of Zelda's culturally instilled elements run well within the gamut of Breath of the Wild, but there are a few key things that slightly make it different.
First and foremost, as part of a stellar compilation by VentureBeat, Breath of the Wild apparently dislodges the traditional heart-collecting aspect of the game. In past Zelda titles, heart pieces that can turn into heart containers are one of the most prized collectibles. In Breath of the Wild, they're gone. Instead, players will have opportunities to upgrade their heart containers and stamina at various points in the game.
Heart Pieces Are No More
This, however, makes sense: There are tons of collectible items in Breath of the Wild, and weapons don't last a long time, so you'll probably be out and about, pilfering what you can. Heart pieces being out of the way helps lessen the chore, and it actually plays well into Nintendo's interesting schtick in terms of how players can upgrade Link.
Where Are The Rupees?
Rupees are Zelda's in-game currency. Players get them by exploring certain locations, beating enemies, or most popularly, smashing pots. In Breath of the Wild, Nintendo has scaled back on rupee collection. Even in the first few hours, there's nary a rupee to be found, save for one or two.
No Choosing Of Names This Time
In past Legend of Zelda titles, especially for the NES, players can name the main character whatever they choose. In Breath of the Wild, it's pretty apparent from the get-go that players assume the role of Link, and no one else.
Mostly Serene Ambient Noise Instead Of Grand Orchestral Scores
Music is a big deal in Zelda games. They're epic, iconic, and there are even real-live concerts dedicated to playing them. In Breath of the Wild, however, the musical score, while existent, is understated and downplayed, which is a wise and organic choice, if only to showcase the inherent calmness and serenity of the encompassing landscapes.
They're spare, often entering into percussive bouts when players come into combat, but the calm restores quickly afterward, paving the way for a countryside soundprint. As VentureBeat notes, Nintendo is probably going for something contemplative with the latest Zelda entry, which strikes just the right balance. The world is massive enough to be crowded with the foreground of imposing music. It's there at the right moments, but it withdraws when not needed, giving Link plenty of breathing room, while the game extends that hush toward the player's own calm.
It's clear that Breath of the Wild isn't your typical Zelda, it feels eons more advanced, feels more significantly rapt with the promise of exploration and discovery compared with previous Zelda efforts. It's a title that could potentially alter the trajectory of the series moving forward — will future Zelda titles be open world, too? — and perch the bar at a peak location Zelda hasn't ventured yet. But you know what's crazy? Reviewers aren't even close to properly experiencing everything the game has to offer.
Long story short. It's Breath of the Wild. It's a different take on Zelda: a beautiful, nuanced, and complex one. But it's still Zelda.
The game comes out March 3 for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U.
