Nothing is more heartbreaking for gamers than seeing their hundred-hour save file gets corrupted.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom player experienced a seemingly catastrophic event: the loss of a 250-hour save file that was 82% complete. Yet, an even crueler twist awaited him when he managed to recover it.
What is Brian_F's Epic Journey
Brian 'Brian_F' Foster, a competitive fighting game player and commentator, shared his monumental achievement on April 23.
Based on GamesRadar's gathered information, he had spent 250 hours in Tears of the Kingdom, collecting all Shrines, light roots, Armor sets, Sage's Wills, and Yiga schematics.
Nintendo decided to end my suffering at 82% map completion by corrupting all of my save files and making the game auto crash. I'm free. https://t.co/YIY4QdGefT
— Brian_F (@Bri4nF) May 11, 2024
Despite these accomplishments, with six sidequests unfinished and only 77% of the map completed, Brian_F committed to achieving a full 100% completion.
The Herculean Task of Full Completion
Tears of the Kingdom is celebrated for its vast, engaging world, which provides countless hours of exploration and adventure. However, the quest for 100% completion transforms the game from a delight to a grueling marathon.
Early speedrunners took 139 hours-more than five days of continuous play-to achieve this feat. Even with current speedruns reduced to 'just' one or two days, the endeavor remains a daunting, meticulous challenge.
The Unfortunate Corruption
Against the odds, Brian_F successfully used this method to recover his save file. What seemed like a relief quickly turned into another burden. The drive to finish the Sisyphean task of 100% completion now felt more like a curse than a blessing. The irony wasn't lost on him or the gaming community: the quest for total completion had turned into a cautionary tale.
The community sympathized, but then one commenter suggested a potential fix: the Switch's data management settings include an option to 'check for corrupt data,' which can sometimes restore bad saves.
The Irony of Recovery
Against the odds, Brian_F successfully used this method to recover his save file. What seemed like a relief quickly turned into another burden. The drive to finish the Sisyphean task of 100% completion now felt more like a curse than a blessing. The irony wasn't lost on him or the gaming community: the quest for total completion had turned into a cautionary tale.
The Lesson for Completionists
Brian_F's experience serves as a direct warning to all gamers with perfectionist tendencies: the pursuit of 100% completion can transform a beloved pastime into a relentless chore. The emotional rollercoaster from loss to recovery highlights the unpredictable nature of gaming.
"Unfortunately, this worked (even though the feature said no data was corrupted?). 83% now," Brian_F said.
Not All Zelda Games Demand Such Commitment
While Tears of the Kingdom demands a significant investment of time and effort, not all Zelda games require such a deep commitment. Many entries in the franchise offer a balanced blend of challenge and enjoyment without the overwhelming pressure to achieve every possible milestone.
Brian_F's saga with Tears of the Kingdom illustrates the highs and lows of striving for full completion in expansive games. His journey reminds us to enjoy the adventure without letting the quest for perfection overshadow the experience.
Meanwhile, another Tears of the Kingdom gamer managed to build a mechanical horse in the game, according to Gamerant.
The skilled player created "Diamond Ears," a moniker he gave to his wonderful creation.
