“Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is a critically acclaimed action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo in 2017. The game features an open-world design where players can freely explore the vast and diverse world of Hyrule. The game mechanics revolve around exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, and players can undertake a variety of missions and quests to progress the story and obtain new items and abilities.
Plot and Characters:
The game follows the story of Link, who wakes up from a hundred-year slumber to find Hyrule in ruins and Princess Zelda trapped in the clutches of the evil Calamity Ganon. Link must travel across Hyrule to defeat the four divine beasts and their respective bosses, to unlock the power to defeat Calamity Ganon and save Princess Zelda. Along the way, Link meets a variety of characters, including the four Champions, who aid him in his quest.
Game Mechanics and Missions:
The game features an open-world design that allows players to freely explore the diverse environments of Hyrule, which are filled with puzzles, enemies, and hidden secrets. Players can climb and glide to reach new areas, and the game also features a physics engine that allows for realistic interactions between objects in the game world. Combat in the game is based on a variety of weapons, such as swords, bows, and shields, which can be upgraded and repaired. The game also features a variety of missions and quests, both main and side quests, that players can undertake to progress the story and obtain new items and abilities.
Premise and Themes:
The game explores themes of discovery, exploration, survival, and the consequences of power. It also features an emphasis on player choice and freedom, allowing players to approach challenges in their own way and explore the game’s world at their own pace. The main premise of the game is for Link to travel across Hyrule to defeat the four divine beasts and their respective bosses, to unlock the power to defeat Calamity Ganon and save Princess Zelda.
Reception:
The game received widespread critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising its open-world design, exploration, and gameplay mechanics. It won numerous awards, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2017. According to Metacritic, which aggregates game reviews, the game has an average score of 97 out of 100 based on 111 reviews, making it one of the highest-rated video games of all time.
Several reviews highlighted the game’s open-world design and sense of freedom. IGN’s review stated, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a masterclass in open-world design and a watershed game that reinvents a 30-year-old franchise.” Similarly, Polygon’s review praised the game’s “sense of boundless possibility” and “sense of freedom and wonder.”
Summary and Takeaways:
In conclusion, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is an exceptional game that sets a new standard for open-world games. Its exploration, gameplay mechanics, and story come together to create a memorable and rewarding experience for players. Its emphasis on player choice and freedom make it a game that can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways, and its critical and commercial success make it a must-play game for anyone with a Nintendo Switch or Wii U.
Citation:
IGN. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review.” IGN, 2 Mar. 2017, www.ign.com/articles/2017/03/02/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-review.
Polygon. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review.” Polygon, 2 Mar. 2017, www.polygon.com/2017/3/2/14781948/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-review-nintendo-switch-wii-u.
Metacritic. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” Metacritic, www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild.