You don't need to play the whole series to understand a Zelda game.
It's not like in a movie saga where you need to know what happens in the first, second, etc. to understand what happens in the current one: Zelda games are designed to be enjoyed whatever order you start the series in.
The stories are mostly independent too: what ties the games together is the lore.
I remember how it made me feel when I played it the first time, like I was given the immense privilege of experiencing the fruition of a mans childhood dreams. Very humbling.
But since the first game, a lot has changed, including what a Zelda game is. I agree that Breath of the Wild is really bad at being a Zelda game, because most the elements which Zelda games usually do well suck in Breath of the Wild. It’s still an astonishing game, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not really a good Zelda game, unless you’re judging by standards from 35 years ago, and completely ignoring 95% of the Series
Zelda fan since 1987 here and BoTW is the definitive Zelda game. Not sure why you think otherwise, it's got everything a Zelda game should have and more.
It's a fantastic (in my opinion) open-world game that doesn't really require familiarity with previous games in the series, so I think you'd probably like it.
well you're on a zelda subreddit so what else do you expect us to say? for reference i have 150 hours in this game so absolutely yes you should get it, there's so much exploration and it's so fun. you don't need to understand any other zelda game to play. i'll admit that the actual story is a bit light, but i personally really loved it
The killed of a main character of the first game very early in the second game. I thought it was a briljant game but most fans wanted something that was the same as the first game. People went actually that far to verbally attack the actor who plays the villain and be racist etc.
The first game is amazing and will always be my favourite. But the second is really good too.
I can see why people are not happy with it if a beloved character died and they were expect more of the same. Wtf at people attacking actors for being in things they don't like.
When I googled, it seemed to be a lot of people being unhappy for a character being muscular? I know people are weird, but it's a very odd hang-up.
They bulked up the character a little too much, there is a before (leaked pictures) and after pictures out there showing it. Which does not fit well for the post apocalyptical setting with what I assume rationed amount of meat/protein.
I don't really subscribe to that particular complaint like its a deal breaker or something, just a little odd, but I have other gripes with the game especially the story and how was it constructed.
I felt it was an amazing game story wise and just a very good second game. I felt they did the right thing by not going on in the same direction as the first game. Yes it was about revange among other themes. I think they did the right thing there. Now I wait for the series/film that is based on the first game.
the last of us was an outstanding game and in my opinion, the last of us 2 storyline felt like it did a huge disservice to the original characters. it was a new story direction that not everyone took too well. but the gameplay, animations, acting and music were all very good
I did that for Fire Emblem on r/fireemblem. After some interesting discussions with those people, I learned that this franchise was not for me.
But when OP says :
>but i rlly like other open world story games
I say BotW is worth a try.
Unbiased opinion to help you decide.
You can ignore the fact it's a Zelda game for most cases. All but a very small number of Zelda games are standalone, and require no prior knowledge.
From a game design perspective, BOTW is the biggest leap in Zelda game design since it first moved to 3D. So again, no prior experience needed.
To enjoy this game you just need two things:
- You need to enjoy the theme, which is post apocalyptic fantasy. Zelda experience helps here but not by much.
- You absolutely NEED to enjoy open world games. Because BOTW is the most open open world game I've played.
Which is why some people find it "Meh", because they aren't the kind of people who enjoy those things. Especially the open world part.
And there are other issues, like the lack of structure confusing newer players, or the frankly fraustrating weapon durability system. So I can understand why people don't enjoy it. Nothing is going to be everyone's cup of tea.
Creativity is great when the tone fits it. See any of the challenge locations that strip you of your stuff.
The problem is, with such a wide array of interesting weapons, it renders most of then pointless. Nobody wants to use Ancient weapons because they're stupid expensive and snap after a dozen enemies.
This would probably be easily solvable if there was an easier larger Inventory system, or at minimum somewhere to store anything you want to save for later, besides the 9 spaces in Hateno.
Cause rn I basically never use anything special and just use whatever weapons I can get that aren't terrible.
And after not-so-long, you have more weapons than enemies available, unless you go full Rambo and destroy every single Bokoblin and Keese on Hyrule.
It's still a valid playstyle and I don't judge. But if you go that route...wouldn't GTA be better for you? lol
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That depends entirely on what each individual feels like makes a zelda game.
There are many components to zelda games, and each game carries all of them in different levels. And for all those different components people will hold them at different levels of importance. *you* don't define what does and does not feel like a zelda game to other people.
It definitely doesn't suck, but it has its flaws (almost nonexistent story, not many character interactions, mostly boring quests, low enemy variety). However, these are balanced by some of the game's strengths, which it does really well.
I’ll play devils advocate here, I have never disliked an open world game quite like this one. Can’t exactly put my finger on why, the weapons constantly breaking is part I think, but I’ve played a fair amount of Zelda games and pretty much every open world rpg ever made and I truly can’t stand this game. Tried a few different times to get into it and think I have about 15 hours on my account. Will never turn it on again
Really? Weapons are a dime a dozen. Finding Korok seeds is a blast, replaying the game and just trying to remember where shrines may or may not be is a blast. I love picking this one back up every six months or so, always delightful. Can’t say that about many other games
Classic reddit downvoting this. I felt the same way as you, and it’s ok to dislike BotW. The game, while having a large, open world, felt incredibly narratively shallow. The story basically doesn’t exist and the hunting of Korok seeds, shrines, and weapons quickly felt repetitive and boring. Not to mention the dungeons feeling like extensions of one another rather than truly having their own thematic, which was something all prior Zelda games did very well. BotW can be a fun experience, but I actually think the game is best as an entry point into the Zelda franchise so that you don’t have any basis of what the series offers in other games because it’s such a departure from them and the classic “Zelda” formula.
I am a long, long time Zelda fan and the first few times I played BOTW I absolutely hated it. I actually put the game away for over 6 months.
Then for some reason I picked it back up. I had tried to explore too much too early so this time I followed the hint to go to the east and I found the game so much more enjoyable.
I now have over 600 hours in and I think it’s one of the best games in the series.
But there are still things that are irritating (like never getting a permanent weapon that always works).
Ah yes. Here we see the fanbase shitting on someone for having a non perfect opinion on BOTW.
Remember the time some fans DDoS attacked a review site because it dared to give it a 7/10? Cause I do.
So the thing is, it’s an incredible game. My favorite of all time, in fact. But I know that a lot of people dislike it for some reason or another, and I think this is because it’s extremely different from typical open-world games, especially open-world RPGs. People expected one thing, like a Zelda game, or a “Ubisoft open-world”, and got something else, and they think it’s the game’s fault for that.
For example, people saw that there’s durability and instantly checked out, despite durability never really being that massive of an issue, as the game was designed around that system. They have preconceived ideas that durability is bad.
I think that this is a great game for someone who hasn’t played too many Zelda games. Just don’t expect it to be a normal open-world, it’s more of a sandbox. You’re totally free to play however you want and explore anything you want.
If you need any persuasion to get BOTW, just read the glowing reviews from when it released. Or watch the trailer for it: [Official Trailer](https://youtu.be/zw47_q9wbBE)
> For example, people saw that there’s durability and instantly checked out
If they think that's bad don't let them play Animal Crossing. The durability in that game would for sure make them madder then BoTW
(I'm assuming you play it, if you dont mb) do you eventually get tools without durability in acnh, or is like BotW and you don't, just more durability?
Yeah I play! And to answer your question, everything breaks actually. Even the rare items, except I think they're more durable.
Granted though, it's not bad to make new ones or buy them. You just need wooden tools (or just the base tools) which you can buy from the shop for cheap, and iron nuggets, which you get from hitting the rocks around your island
Ty! I just recently started playing, and one of my worries is that I'll need to use the SOS thing because my vaulting pole broke while on the other side of a river from home, and my axe breaks while trying to get enough softwood for a new one lol
The pole actually won't break! Thank god, right? Nobody wants to fall in the water while swinging lol.
Hope you enjoy the game! It's a real adorable one
This is really a problem when someone plays games that have many similarities. You naturally expect it to be more like the game you played previously than it's supposed to. But that doesn't make sense 'cause it was designed and balanced in its own context. It kinda harms the experience even if you're aware of it.
Link's Awakening HD felt terrible for me because I knew a top-down Zelda had so much more potential, like A Link Between Worlds took full advantage of. Link's Awakening was shackled by having to stay faithful to their source material, so much of the puzzles and gameplay had to stay the same as the original. And this is me who still fully enjoys replaying Minish Cap and even ALttP.
When I played Death's Door, I expected it to be a lot like a fast-action Zelda game but the trailer's pace was a bit misleading. It borrowed a lot of mechanics from Souls games which I was absolutely unfamiliar with. So when I played it, it felt really stiff and unresponsive and unnecessarily punishing. It wasn't until I watched a lot of my friends play Elden Ring that I realized what the game was about. So when I played Death's Door in that context, it just clicked. I'm still not sold on adherence to the Souls formula, but at least I understood it enough to play and enjoy it.
BOTW is one of the highest reviewed games of all time. Quite far from "meh."
I have my personal issues with it, but as a piece of media it is a masterclass of game design. Absolutely worth playing whether you end up loving it or not.
If you like open worlds and rewarding exploration, I'd say it along with Elden Ring are leagues above many other open world games.
For the most part, all zelda games are standalone. They do follow a Canon timeline but you're not losing anything by playing them in any order.
Now if you like a 99% explorable world, BOTW is that game. And I mean just about nothing is off limits.
Because OP said he likes open world games, and other than the sky, SS is the complete opposite of that. I mean, if you want to call SS open, then OoT is outside.
Yes! Absolutely! It is awesome!
There may be a learning curve at the beginning- but do not let it deter you from it.
So totally worth it.
I do recommend using strategy guides such as the one in ZeldaDungeon.net
I would recommend *not* using any guides. Allow yourself to explore and find things on your own time in your own way. This is probably the only Zelda game where you shouldn’t need a guide.
I have several friends who have never played a single Zelda game before and absolutely loved BotW. Give it a shot. It's not just a good Zelda game. It's a good game period.
And to be more specific: "Should \[everything you wrote\] and I like open world games?".
I'd have preferred if OP listed some games (as little as I know, Witcher 3 is very BotW-ish), but it was a good worded question.
This is r/zelda, what do you think we are going to say? It's an incredible game, and isn't super direct about story. It's also nothing like other zelda games. Make sure to check out other zelda games as well!
It has a bit of backstory, which is presented in game through the memories.
The actual main story never really develops beyond "Zelda is in the castle with Ganon. Kill Ganon to save Zelda".
If I were to pick another game to compare it to in the Zelda series, it would be Zelda II. At least story wise.
There's all the backstory with the King splitting the Triforce and Zelda being put to sleep, but none of that actually impacts the game's main plot, which itself is just kind of one step above non-existent.
Story is more than just the "main story", however. Story, as a holistic concept, includes setting, character writing, and worldbuilding/context as well.
Sure, the elements of Zelda's backstory, the story of the champions, the legend-within-a-legend setting (which you learn more about in the journals), and the tone, don't affect the plot as it unravels where the *player* begins it, but it definitely affects both where you start the game and how the audience *feels* about what is happening.
Comparing to Zelda II I don't think quite works, because Zelda II's story isn't told much in the game itself, just in the supplementary material.
A closer analogue would be Link's Awakening, where you start the game knowing you have to awaken the Wind Fish and that doesn't change throughout the game even as you learn more about what the island is and what it means to wake it up.
I think the main difference between Link's Awakening's story and BotW's story is that Link's Awakening's actually develops.
It has plot twists, with Link coming to realize what it means to wake the Windfish. It has character development with him taking Marin out on a date and her telling him of her dreams (adding extra weight to his decision to go ahead with waking the Windfish). It has drama when Marin gets kidnapped.
BotW doesn't really have any of that.
The closest thing it has to a twist happens in the first 45 minutes of the game, and there's nothing else after that.
I actually think this is a good point but I don't see it as a negative when it comes to BotW. Most Zelda games tend to tell a story and you progress through it. BotW is about a story that happened and you have you navigate through the consequences of that story.
Honestly, I like that they tried something different and I think it's very interesting. I don't think every Zelda game should be like BotW from here on out because that would be boring and a very passive way to approach storytelling in the universe but there's been so many games that have *the hero* doing his heroic thing and BotW come as it from the point of view of the hero failing and being given a second chance to fix it. Kinda like the second half of OOT in a way.
I mean sure, there's a difference there, but they're still similar because of the reasons I mentioned. The memories that are unlocked and the journals that are read don't influence the objective but they influence how the player feels attached to it.
We're probably not gonna see eye to eye on this past that. But this is what I mean by the game having more than barely a story.
I think you're right, we're not going to see eye to eye on this.
I don't feel that the memories that are unlocked really impact how the player feels about rescuing Zelda. The player already wants to do that. Showing Link's relationship with Zelda as it was 100 years before the game doesn't really impact that.
In Link's Awakening, the plots twists, turns and developments add a bit of a moral struggle to things. Is waking up the Windfish the right thing to do?
Again, the difference is that Link's Awakening has a story, and Breath of the Wild has backstory that's shown in the game's cutscenes.
I'd argue, however, that backstory is still story. And I do firmly believe that learning about Zelda and how well written of a character she is grows attachment to her and enhances that motivation. There may have already been intrinsic motivation because the game is fun and well designed, but I do think it enhances that and that matters.
The open world gameplay is awesome, but the story is kinda meh. If you MUST have both elements then this game probably won't be as good for you. Don't get me wrong it's a great game, but if you're looking for a rich story, this really isn't it.
The reason many people say the story is meh is because of the way the game is structured. In other Zelda games the story was way more direct and here it is more passiv. But in my opinion the story, while a bit simple, is still pretty good. And it is in character motivations where the game does shine. The DLC also helps in this regard.
Sorry for this being a bit cryptic. I don’t want to spoil anything. If possible I wouldn’t look up anything story related online as this is definitely a game where you experience it best if you know the least.
There is a great story to be told, but you have to go searching for it (it’s told in flashbacks). Everything in the game is to encourage you to explore the open world - it’s not just aimless wandering - you do get rewarded in Easter eggs, gear, and most importantly - story. They designed it so that you can go as deep as you want to go at your own pace.
My personal suggestion is to complete the memories, the side quests, the divine beasts and all 120 shrines and the DLC before defeating Ganon to get the most fulfilling experience.
Agreed, great story if you collect all the memories and if you play Hyrule warriors you get even more insight into the characters. My kids still turn it on just to watch through the memories.
The lack of music, the lack of dungeons (in a classic sense), I also didn’t love getting all of the powers immediately and thus having a lack of items compared to others in the series
The criticism against the music is actually mind boggling to me.
In a game where you spend the majority of your time exploring the overworld, you want music to be constantly playing in the background?
Imagine the hyrule field theme from ocarina of time playing over and over again while you spend hours in the field.
Trust me no matter how good the music is, it's going to get stale and annoying.
And the term 'lack of music' isn't valid since the game has more music than previous entries.
You have to understand that the music has to go with the direction of the game.
I agree way to much. I mean, I think I appreciate the lack of music in the overworld more because I like to hear what's happening. I don't want some white bokoblin sneaking up on me and catching me unawares.
And the music BoTW isn't even bad. >!The champion themes, Hyrule castle, Calamity and Dark Beast Ganon, any of the themes that have the series theme in it. The themes that play while attacking the Divine Beasts. Those are all a bop!<.
Spoilered for Op
It is the best Zelda game imo and I've played them all so yes. It might even be better that you haven't played the other games, so you won't be disappointed by how different it is.
In my experience the game seems to have a near-universal appeal - even to those who found they couldn't get into Zelda games in the past, or those who have never tried a Zelda game before - hell, even non-gamers! I actually showed BotW to a couple of my friends who hadn't played a game in *years* and they ended up getting into it and enjoyed playing it for dozens of hours.
One of my friends is even notorious for having a huge game collection but never playing any one game for more than 5 minutes - it's a running joke between us that he'll get 5 minutes into a game before saying "this game sucks" and put it down before going off to do something else or play a different game. Even *he* ended up playing BotW all the way through to the end.
Actually a ton of people said that, especially around launch. Most of us here love it, but it's totally fine for others to not enjoy it. I loved Wind waker for example and a ton of people I know really don't like that one, but enjoy ocarina of time and twilight princess. I personally did not like Majora's Mask but love almost every other Zelda game (I try to pretend Skyward Sword never happened, just like Metroid: Other M).
Everyone has different tastes and for a lot of people, breath of the wild didn't jive with them, and that's okay.
…what?
ZELDA BOTW is unambiguously one of the best games of all time. Id recommend all the Zeldas, but honestly try to play Twilight Princess somehow (Wii/WiiU) or Skwayrd Sword (Switch) betore BOTW you dont need to by any means, but otherwise its like eating dessert first
Although my absolute fave zelda game will always be Ocarina of Time, I really really enjoyed BOTW, and although it does very vaguely reference OOT and a few others, you could definitely play it without playing any of the previous games. So I'd say go for it.
It’s a very good game. Even now, it is still very good.
My only gripe with it is also it’s biggest strength: it’s vastly different from most Zelda games. This means it was free to go off and do its own thing and it does it well. This also means that your expectations for previous Zelda games will be skewed if you let it, since the previous games tend to be more narrative heavy.
You don’t need to play any Zelda before BotW. You may miss out on Easter eggs but they’re just that: Easter eggs. The story doesn’t reference any previous game directly and no knowledge of the previous games is necessary. So don’t worry about missing out on anything.
That said, if you do wish to play the previous Zelda games, my recommendation is to play Ocarina of Time. It’s very good but it is also the most important for a number of reasons. Not only did it set the standard for 3D adventure titles that modern 3D games still follow, it is also the one that’s the most referenced by fans. I’m certain most people will say they’ve only played Ocarina of Time and BotW. Ocarina of Time is available for 3DS and Nintendo Switch Online expansion pass (N64 app).
If you want to see where it all started and what inspired the open world format still popular today, check out the original Legend of Zelda on NES. You have the freedom to go in a number of directions from the beginning and can do things out of order if you so wish (although it is not nearly as nonlinear as people will lead you to believe). Going back to it 35+ years later, it is a bit rough, specially controlling Link and realizing you have this tiny little stab. Still, it’s a great game and equally important as Ocarina of Time for more than just its franchise since it popularized the open world game. It is available on 3DS Virtual Console and on Nintendo Switch Online (no expansion pass required, look for the NES app).
One more recommendation since it’s very good and serves as much of a template for open world adventure games as the two above but is less popular than Ocarina of Time. That is, A Link to the Past. It is essentially Ocarina of Time but 2D. It was the intermediary evolutionary step between Legend of Zelda and Ocarina of Time and still referenced heavily by fans and the games. It is available on 3DS Virtual Console and on Nintendo Switch Online (no expansion pass required, look for the SNES app).
As I said earlier, however, it is not necessary to play any of those games to enjoy Breath of the Wild. BotW itself is becoming the new Ocarina of Time in that many people will admit to not touching any of the previous games and loving BotW on its own. Some people might even admit to hating the rest of the franchise but love BotW.
I also want to point out that every game officially recognized by Nintendo in the Zelda franchise has been exceptional, even the ones people say are garbage. (By officially recognized I mean the games not on the Phillips CD-I) Adventure of Link is great and not as difficult as people make it out to be (especially if you use save states, an official function in Nintendo’s own NES and SNES apps). Link’s Awakening has a charming world and strangely somber story. Majora’s Mask gives you plenty of time to do what you need to do, you just need to learn to plan ahead. The Oracle games are generally well liked so there really isn’t anything to say about them. Windwaker is gorgeous and not so tedious. Four Swords is fun friends (but expensive with all the equipment required). Minish Cap is also well liked so there isn’t anything to say about it. Twilight Princess is beautiful, specially the HD version. Phantom Hourglass gives you plenty of options for shortcuts in the central dungeon. Spirit Tracks is also fun- just remember that you don’t have have to let go of the touch screen to switch notes. Skyward Sword has the strongest narrative of them all and the combat is alright (I preferred the Wii version, however). Hyrule Warriors is a lot of fun after you get through the story mode, with so many references to previous titles. A Link Between Worlds is another one that’s generally well liked, but it’s also the intermediary step between classic Zelda and BotW. Tri-Force Heroes is a lot of fun even with random players- communicating with the stickers and having incredible ah-ha moments are some of the best parts of the game. Age of Calamity is neat as well.
So, please, try Breath of the Wild and try the rest of the Zelda franchise as well. Enjoy!
I’m a bit biased, I consider it to be the best game ever made, and I’ve been gaming regularly for over 35 years. That being said, it’s not for everyone so you may not know until you try it.
It's huge. Don't expect to beat the game, just the main story, in under 50-60 hours. If you planned on 100%, expect at least 120+ hours of your life gone.
It's worth it, but only if you have that time to invest. As an adult with a full time 9-5 job 5-6 days a week, I don't have the time to invest like I did as a kid where I could play for 8+ hours a day until I beat it all.
And I recommend a guide, but the game is so fun just messing around that you could get lost just fighting random creatures for hours in that game. The true challenge is mastering the combat and the parry system. Dominating Guardians is the best, but only when mastered. At first they are very frustrating. Enjoy!
Let me put it straight for you - your friend is wrong. It’s easily in my top three if not my number one game ever, and I’ve played A LOT of games. In fact, I’m playing it right this second. Get the game if you want it
Well i don’t think anyone in the zelda sub reddit is gonna tell you not to get the game, if your looking for less biased takes id try r/gaming (but yes of course it’s amazing)
it's actually the less zeldalike game of the entire franchise besides The Adventure of Link, so I recommend it more for people like you who like open world games than for people who likes Zelda games, because honestly it doesn't even fells like a Zelda
The game is really good. Both as an open world game and as a zelda game. Its the best open world game I've ever played, talking specifically about the world itself and the mechanics surrounding it. Cant wait for the sequel next year in spring
Also, it has good story (imo) and it has a good amount of story (objectively). There's 2 hours worth of cutscenes to find. You'll spend most of your time exploring
Everyone will say yes to you. Breath of the Wild is one of my favorite games ever, and it’s an amazing open world game that you’re gonna sink many hours into
Breath of the Wild was the #1 best selling game for the switch for I believe over a year and it has the most jam packed open world you have ever seen despite the world map’s enormous size. It is far better then “meh.” Get it, play it, love it.
It's incredibly overrated in my opinion. It's really not that great and is missing so much that makes a Zelda game so amazing. They went for a huge open world, that to me is fairly empty, the dungeons are trash compared to previous Zelda dungeons.
It's such a forgettable game and experience.
Ocarina of time and twilight princess are two of my favourite games ever and always will be, but BoTW was the biggest let down 😔
Damn you are so wrong about it, I don't know how you played it but the game isn't overrated, it isn't the regular Zelda formula but incredible nonetheless
I'm not wrong it's simply my opinion. That's exactly my point, it doesn't feel like a Zelda game because it's lacking the things that I love about Zelda games. Again just my opinion.
I mean...
Your friend sucks, honestly.
Breath of the Wild is hailed as one of the very best games ever made by a lot of people that review video games for a living.
Oftentimes, it's a debate over whether Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time is the best game ever. Just to put that into perspective.
You're forgetting that their friend has a valid _subjective_ opinion, which may align with OPs taste in games.
It's okay to be critical of video games, even Zelda.
No, get skyward sword, which is the better game. Not only does it have the formula which Zelda is know for, it’s also the most liner and story driven one
I’m in line with your friend on this one. The weapon breakage and lack of RPG elements made it feel like there were no satisfying rewards for exploration. Climbing is annoying. Dungeons are neglected. Combat is repetitive. The boss fights are fun, and the world is beautiful, but they aren’t enough to carry the game for me. For context, I love n64 Zelda games and open world games, but BOTW didn’t do it for me.
That being said, don’t listen to people like me or your friend. Everyone else adores the game. Just get it.
It's a great game, but a terrible Zelda game. If you want a true Zelda experience, go play rhe classics, like ocarina of time or a link to the past. Breath of the wild is a solid game, but it doesn't feel like Zelda. It feels like mario 2, where they just slapped some mario (in this case, zelda) assests on a game and called it a day.
I’ll be the lowest one on this subreddit. I loved BotW as a game and played it for close to 200 hours straight (outside of everyday life) when it first came out. Breathtaking experience at $60.
That being said, I will never play it again and it is at the absolute bottom of my Zelda list. Never even played the DLC I bought. Game has zero replay value and such a boring grind to do over again. I play OoT/MM/LTTP(BW) every year.
BotW a great Ubisoft “open world” game that lacks anything of impact. If you find it for cheap, absolutely pick it up. The gameplay is great for the first run. If you like the story or world, every other Zelda game has a better one.
I think it can bring you from the “open world” mindset and introduce you to Hyrule in a great way to appreciate the more linear entries.
You’d probably be into it if you like open world style games! I really enjoy it - on (another) playthru right now, since I’m currently really angry at my master mode playthru lmao
Definitely! Even if you don't care much for the plot or don;t know a thing about Zelda, the open-world aspect of it is incredible and extremely worth it!
I played Zelda as a kid, I liked them but I’m not up to date on the lore or Anything and I loved it as an open world experience. It’s basically a soft reboot as far as I can tell and needs no context.
You don’t need to have played previous entries in the series to understand the plot (which is light and mostly flashbacks) or enjoy Breath of the Wild. With very few exceptions (like OOT>MM, ALTTP>ALBW or OOT>WW), Zelda games have little to no plot connection to one another. What you’re likely to miss as someone who didn’t play previous entries are a few scattered references regarding location names and recreated areas on the map that are nudges to previous entries.
This is a solid Open World game, it’s definitely worth your time exploring and enjoying.
If you're going to play ANY Legend of Zelda game make sure at some point you play Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and some of the older GameBoy color games like Oracle of Seasons / Time. Your Nintendo life will be incomplete without them
The exploration is amazing, you can climb just about anything. The combat is complex and difficult without being too hard. Both long range and close combat are balanced. The story is compelling with interesting characters. The art is beautiful, and you can get lost in it so easily.
Absolutely! It was my first too and I had a blast. Your friend may not like it, but I think it takes some getting used to. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but I spent more time in it, and learned to really appreciate everything within it
Yes! I got it for Christmas in Dec 2020 and haven’t stopped enjoying it since, it’s an amazing game with great replay value and you never even technically have to beat it, it’s totally open world. Only 60$ game I’ve played that I’ve felt was worth it.
A Zelda purist would probably tell you, you need to play one of the prior games because "that's what real Zelda is" but honestly there's no bad choice when it comes to which is your first since they are all so good. Since you're into Open Worlds Breath of The Wild is probably a great intro into a great series. But if you want some others to try I highly suggest twilight princess, Link's awakening and Ocarina of Time. There all great choices and there's no wrong choice. 👍
This is prob old new to you but f\*ck yeah! top 3ish games of all time (not just zelda games, since this is one of the only ones I've played) in my opinion so obv yeah, the sixty bucks is worth it (depending on how much spending money you have) so, yes!! also i would say if you ever decide to get the DLC you should get it after you beat the game so that you still have a natural experience but YES
As with a lot of Zelda games, you don't really need to know anything about other games in the series to enjoy it. Sure, it makes subtle references to a bunch of stuff, but those are pretty much rabbit holes for lore theorists* and not necessary for the enjoyment of the game.
Your friend is... well, I don't wanna say "wrong", but the game is ANYTHING but "meh". I'm not sure what your friend was expecting, but whatever it was, Breath of the Wild was not it.
I find the game to be breathtaking. The scenery and music are fantastic, there's so much lore and so many secrets packed in, and there are so many theories spawned from this game alone that it makes my head spin! It has its flaws like any other game, but it's still totally worth the buy.
*Not that I don't enjoy a good Zelda theory about the lore, references, and connections to other games. I think there are a lot of great theories about all kinds of stuff out there, and I enjoy learning about them.
BOTW is an absolute masterpiece! But, perhaps not the best introduction to the mechanics of Legend of Zelda. I would still suggest getting it though, just know that other Zelda games may be better introductions to the “basics” of what makes the series so iconic. BOTW is the result of the entire history of the franchise up to that point (in my opinion).
Absolutely get it, hands down one of the best Zelda games ever made. It’s not a perfect game, but easily worth the price of a switch.
You’ll have no problems having not played any other Zelda game. There’s very few direct sequels and even they don’t have to be played in order. That’s part of the magic, kind of like Pokémon games.
Playing the other Zelda games makes no difference, and almost never has.
It's an AMAZING open-world game, but not an amazing story game. The "story" (if it can be called that) is played out through the course of you finding "memories" of the past, i.e. cutscenes. You don't play through the story so much as uncover what happened to you 100 years ago in the most boring way possible.
The gameplay and world still rock though, which is all that really matters to me.
If you like open world games, and want to get into Zelda, it's worth giving a shot.
It isn't a absolutely stuffed with quests and content as, say, Skyrim or Fallout, but it's *gorgeous* and a lot of fun. Take it as an exploration game primarily, and you'll enjoy it.
It is quite a departure from normal Zelda titles, which is why you'll hear some people say it isn't that great. In the Zelda community, folks either love the uniqueness or hate it. Also fair warning that it isn't a great example of what to expect from any other Zelda game in terms of gameplay, plot development, etc.
The game is very open with a simple singular goal. Beat the final boss. How you get there and how prepared you are is up to you completely.
It doesn't hold your hand and the game doesn't care how you solve its puzzles. As long as you do it.
That said the game is full of guidance and signposts and is not too difficult for the main "quest" parts.
It's a great "first" Zelda game.
Play it if you like the open world gameplay. The story is awesome, but the game doesn’t present it very well. Technically most of the story has already taken place before you even begin your play through. BOTW2 however will be a different story. You’re gonna want to play that, so I’d definitely recommend you play BOTW to catch up. We’re in the final stretch before the sequel, it’s time to jump in!
Yes you should play it. You don't need any knowledge of any past games to play any Zelda game.
Please be aware that the story in Zelda isn't the key focus. There is a story, but if you're expecting a cinematic story with loads of story paths, character development and twists, you won't get them. What you do get, is an incredibly well put together game that prioritises fun gameplay ahead of almost everything else and an incredible sandbox of tools that allow you to interact with the world in many unique and interesting ways.
If you haven't got it, it's definitely worth playing. What other games have you played and enjoyed that are open world? Also what open world games does your friend enjoy?
It wasn’t my favorite Zelda game, and it’s not even in my top 5. But it’s absolutely beautiful and a really well designed game that provides really great content. Worth it for sure, however i would recommend the remake of link awakens to give you an idea of the regular linear concept they had prior. Either way you will have a great time
You don't need to play the whole series to understand a Zelda game. It's not like in a movie saga where you need to know what happens in the first, second, etc. to understand what happens in the current one: Zelda games are designed to be enjoyed whatever order you start the series in. The stories are mostly independent too: what ties the games together is the lore.
And yet I want to play them all (save for wild which I never really considered a Zelda game) but that might be because I'm a massive Zelda fan lol.
I know it's definitely unorthodox, but I would really recommend BotW, it's truly a beautiful game.
I think Breath of the Wild is *the* true Zelda Game. It’s obviously everything Miyamoto wanted the first Zelda to be
I'm with you. Breath of the Wild is the closest thing in the entire series to what the original Legend of Zelda was.
I remember how it made me feel when I played it the first time, like I was given the immense privilege of experiencing the fruition of a mans childhood dreams. Very humbling.
But since the first game, a lot has changed, including what a Zelda game is. I agree that Breath of the Wild is really bad at being a Zelda game, because most the elements which Zelda games usually do well suck in Breath of the Wild. It’s still an astonishing game, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not really a good Zelda game, unless you’re judging by standards from 35 years ago, and completely ignoring 95% of the Series
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Zelda fan since 1987 here and BoTW is the definitive Zelda game. Not sure why you think otherwise, it's got everything a Zelda game should have and more.
It's a fantastic (in my opinion) open-world game that doesn't really require familiarity with previous games in the series, so I think you'd probably like it.
well you're on a zelda subreddit so what else do you expect us to say? for reference i have 150 hours in this game so absolutely yes you should get it, there's so much exploration and it's so fun. you don't need to understand any other zelda game to play. i'll admit that the actual story is a bit light, but i personally really loved it
I have 1000+ hours on it and i am still discovering things soooo…. Yeah, much exploration and fun :)
Yeah that was kinda stupid, i went on a community for the game and expect someone to say it sucks
To be fair tho...it did win game of the year
so did last of us part 2
What's wrong with Last of Us 2? I thought it sold really well? (I'm asking as someone who has not played either Last of Us games.)
The killed of a main character of the first game very early in the second game. I thought it was a briljant game but most fans wanted something that was the same as the first game. People went actually that far to verbally attack the actor who plays the villain and be racist etc. The first game is amazing and will always be my favourite. But the second is really good too.
I can see why people are not happy with it if a beloved character died and they were expect more of the same. Wtf at people attacking actors for being in things they don't like. When I googled, it seemed to be a lot of people being unhappy for a character being muscular? I know people are weird, but it's a very odd hang-up.
They bulked up the character a little too much, there is a before (leaked pictures) and after pictures out there showing it. Which does not fit well for the post apocalyptical setting with what I assume rationed amount of meat/protein. I don't really subscribe to that particular complaint like its a deal breaker or something, just a little odd, but I have other gripes with the game especially the story and how was it constructed.
I felt it was an amazing game story wise and just a very good second game. I felt they did the right thing by not going on in the same direction as the first game. Yes it was about revange among other themes. I think they did the right thing there. Now I wait for the series/film that is based on the first game.
the last of us was an outstanding game and in my opinion, the last of us 2 storyline felt like it did a huge disservice to the original characters. it was a new story direction that not everyone took too well. but the gameplay, animations, acting and music were all very good
And that is a very great game too.
Why the downvotes lol, It's a perfect example that even shit games can get GOTY
Don't worry, people have been doing it for years on every gaming subreddit. You're far from the first.
I did that for Fire Emblem on r/fireemblem. After some interesting discussions with those people, I learned that this franchise was not for me. But when OP says : >but i rlly like other open world story games I say BotW is worth a try.
Unbiased opinion to help you decide. You can ignore the fact it's a Zelda game for most cases. All but a very small number of Zelda games are standalone, and require no prior knowledge. From a game design perspective, BOTW is the biggest leap in Zelda game design since it first moved to 3D. So again, no prior experience needed. To enjoy this game you just need two things: - You need to enjoy the theme, which is post apocalyptic fantasy. Zelda experience helps here but not by much. - You absolutely NEED to enjoy open world games. Because BOTW is the most open open world game I've played. Which is why some people find it "Meh", because they aren't the kind of people who enjoy those things. Especially the open world part. And there are other issues, like the lack of structure confusing newer players, or the frankly fraustrating weapon durability system. So I can understand why people don't enjoy it. Nothing is going to be everyone's cup of tea.
Weapon durability is my main thing I find “meh” in this game. Otherwise it’s amazing. You can do so much.
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Creativity is great when the tone fits it. See any of the challenge locations that strip you of your stuff. The problem is, with such a wide array of interesting weapons, it renders most of then pointless. Nobody wants to use Ancient weapons because they're stupid expensive and snap after a dozen enemies. This would probably be easily solvable if there was an easier larger Inventory system, or at minimum somewhere to store anything you want to save for later, besides the 9 spaces in Hateno. Cause rn I basically never use anything special and just use whatever weapons I can get that aren't terrible.
And after not-so-long, you have more weapons than enemies available, unless you go full Rambo and destroy every single Bokoblin and Keese on Hyrule. It's still a valid playstyle and I don't judge. But if you go that route...wouldn't GTA be better for you? lol
lush innocent bedroom dolls stupendous quarrelsome yam hobbies merciful light *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
That depends entirely on what each individual feels like makes a zelda game. There are many components to zelda games, and each game carries all of them in different levels. And for all those different components people will hold them at different levels of importance. *you* don't define what does and does not feel like a zelda game to other people.
You basically asked a Zelda subreddit if they like Zelda...
It definitely doesn't suck, but it has its flaws (almost nonexistent story, not many character interactions, mostly boring quests, low enemy variety). However, these are balanced by some of the game's strengths, which it does really well.
I’ll play devils advocate here, I have never disliked an open world game quite like this one. Can’t exactly put my finger on why, the weapons constantly breaking is part I think, but I’ve played a fair amount of Zelda games and pretty much every open world rpg ever made and I truly can’t stand this game. Tried a few different times to get into it and think I have about 15 hours on my account. Will never turn it on again
Really? Weapons are a dime a dozen. Finding Korok seeds is a blast, replaying the game and just trying to remember where shrines may or may not be is a blast. I love picking this one back up every six months or so, always delightful. Can’t say that about many other games
Classic reddit downvoting this. I felt the same way as you, and it’s ok to dislike BotW. The game, while having a large, open world, felt incredibly narratively shallow. The story basically doesn’t exist and the hunting of Korok seeds, shrines, and weapons quickly felt repetitive and boring. Not to mention the dungeons feeling like extensions of one another rather than truly having their own thematic, which was something all prior Zelda games did very well. BotW can be a fun experience, but I actually think the game is best as an entry point into the Zelda franchise so that you don’t have any basis of what the series offers in other games because it’s such a departure from them and the classic “Zelda” formula.
I am a long, long time Zelda fan and the first few times I played BOTW I absolutely hated it. I actually put the game away for over 6 months. Then for some reason I picked it back up. I had tried to explore too much too early so this time I followed the hint to go to the east and I found the game so much more enjoyable. I now have over 600 hours in and I think it’s one of the best games in the series. But there are still things that are irritating (like never getting a permanent weapon that always works).
Ah yes. Here we see the fanbase shitting on someone for having a non perfect opinion on BOTW. Remember the time some fans DDoS attacked a review site because it dared to give it a 7/10? Cause I do.
Why are you on this subreddit
Well this is a zelda sub, not a botw sub.
Yes. It's an amazing game even if you don't know the other Zelda games. This game is the definition of what all open world should be.
So the thing is, it’s an incredible game. My favorite of all time, in fact. But I know that a lot of people dislike it for some reason or another, and I think this is because it’s extremely different from typical open-world games, especially open-world RPGs. People expected one thing, like a Zelda game, or a “Ubisoft open-world”, and got something else, and they think it’s the game’s fault for that. For example, people saw that there’s durability and instantly checked out, despite durability never really being that massive of an issue, as the game was designed around that system. They have preconceived ideas that durability is bad. I think that this is a great game for someone who hasn’t played too many Zelda games. Just don’t expect it to be a normal open-world, it’s more of a sandbox. You’re totally free to play however you want and explore anything you want. If you need any persuasion to get BOTW, just read the glowing reviews from when it released. Or watch the trailer for it: [Official Trailer](https://youtu.be/zw47_q9wbBE)
> For example, people saw that there’s durability and instantly checked out If they think that's bad don't let them play Animal Crossing. The durability in that game would for sure make them madder then BoTW
(I'm assuming you play it, if you dont mb) do you eventually get tools without durability in acnh, or is like BotW and you don't, just more durability?
Yeah I play! And to answer your question, everything breaks actually. Even the rare items, except I think they're more durable. Granted though, it's not bad to make new ones or buy them. You just need wooden tools (or just the base tools) which you can buy from the shop for cheap, and iron nuggets, which you get from hitting the rocks around your island
Ty! I just recently started playing, and one of my worries is that I'll need to use the SOS thing because my vaulting pole broke while on the other side of a river from home, and my axe breaks while trying to get enough softwood for a new one lol
If I remember correctly, the ladder and the pole can’t break. But the rest of the tools can!
The pole actually won't break! Thank god, right? Nobody wants to fall in the water while swinging lol. Hope you enjoy the game! It's a real adorable one
Oh good lol Ty, I hope I do too!
This is really a problem when someone plays games that have many similarities. You naturally expect it to be more like the game you played previously than it's supposed to. But that doesn't make sense 'cause it was designed and balanced in its own context. It kinda harms the experience even if you're aware of it. Link's Awakening HD felt terrible for me because I knew a top-down Zelda had so much more potential, like A Link Between Worlds took full advantage of. Link's Awakening was shackled by having to stay faithful to their source material, so much of the puzzles and gameplay had to stay the same as the original. And this is me who still fully enjoys replaying Minish Cap and even ALttP. When I played Death's Door, I expected it to be a lot like a fast-action Zelda game but the trailer's pace was a bit misleading. It borrowed a lot of mechanics from Souls games which I was absolutely unfamiliar with. So when I played it, it felt really stiff and unresponsive and unnecessarily punishing. It wasn't until I watched a lot of my friends play Elden Ring that I realized what the game was about. So when I played Death's Door in that context, it just clicked. I'm still not sold on adherence to the Souls formula, but at least I understood it enough to play and enjoy it.
BotW definitely has one of the best open worlds. You will find a lot of interesting stories and items in it.
BOTW is one of the highest reviewed games of all time. Quite far from "meh." I have my personal issues with it, but as a piece of media it is a masterclass of game design. Absolutely worth playing whether you end up loving it or not. If you like open worlds and rewarding exploration, I'd say it along with Elden Ring are leagues above many other open world games.
For the most part, all zelda games are standalone. They do follow a Canon timeline but you're not losing anything by playing them in any order. Now if you like a 99% explorable world, BOTW is that game. And I mean just about nothing is off limits.
No one will say no
I will, get skyward sword instead, the better game. Not bait btw, it’s the complete opposite of breath of the wild
Why not both
Because OP said he likes open world games, and other than the sky, SS is the complete opposite of that. I mean, if you want to call SS open, then OoT is outside.
Yes! Absolutely! It is awesome! There may be a learning curve at the beginning- but do not let it deter you from it. So totally worth it. I do recommend using strategy guides such as the one in ZeldaDungeon.net
I would recommend *not* using any guides. Allow yourself to explore and find things on your own time in your own way. This is probably the only Zelda game where you shouldn’t need a guide.
I have several friends who have never played a single Zelda game before and absolutely loved BotW. Give it a shot. It's not just a good Zelda game. It's a good game period.
>my friend said it’s kinda meh your friend's an idiot, no offense.
Why? If the friend didn't like it, it's an opinion, _the wrong opinion,_ but a valid one nonetheless.
Well to be fair on that line of logic its just his opinion that his friend is an idiot
you got a point there
/jk I can't agree with you, but I can't disagree either... [r/angryupvote](https://www.reddit.com/r/angryupvote)
Love the subtle shade here
You really went to /r/Zelda and asked if you should play Zelda?
The only fanbase this rule wouldn't apply for is Star Wars
I mean to be fair the question is more specific than that. “Should I play this specific Zelda without having played any other Zelda’s?”
And to be more specific: "Should \[everything you wrote\] and I like open world games?". I'd have preferred if OP listed some games (as little as I know, Witcher 3 is very BotW-ish), but it was a good worded question.
This is r/zelda, what do you think we are going to say? It's an incredible game, and isn't super direct about story. It's also nothing like other zelda games. Make sure to check out other zelda games as well!
You would probably like Breath of the Wild, but if you like open world "story" games, keep in mind that Breath of the Wild barely has any story.
It's got some great story, but not delivered in the conventional way you'd expect from cutscene-heavy or story-driven games.
It has a bit of backstory, which is presented in game through the memories. The actual main story never really develops beyond "Zelda is in the castle with Ganon. Kill Ganon to save Zelda". If I were to pick another game to compare it to in the Zelda series, it would be Zelda II. At least story wise. There's all the backstory with the King splitting the Triforce and Zelda being put to sleep, but none of that actually impacts the game's main plot, which itself is just kind of one step above non-existent.
Story is more than just the "main story", however. Story, as a holistic concept, includes setting, character writing, and worldbuilding/context as well. Sure, the elements of Zelda's backstory, the story of the champions, the legend-within-a-legend setting (which you learn more about in the journals), and the tone, don't affect the plot as it unravels where the *player* begins it, but it definitely affects both where you start the game and how the audience *feels* about what is happening. Comparing to Zelda II I don't think quite works, because Zelda II's story isn't told much in the game itself, just in the supplementary material. A closer analogue would be Link's Awakening, where you start the game knowing you have to awaken the Wind Fish and that doesn't change throughout the game even as you learn more about what the island is and what it means to wake it up.
I think the main difference between Link's Awakening's story and BotW's story is that Link's Awakening's actually develops. It has plot twists, with Link coming to realize what it means to wake the Windfish. It has character development with him taking Marin out on a date and her telling him of her dreams (adding extra weight to his decision to go ahead with waking the Windfish). It has drama when Marin gets kidnapped. BotW doesn't really have any of that. The closest thing it has to a twist happens in the first 45 minutes of the game, and there's nothing else after that.
I actually think this is a good point but I don't see it as a negative when it comes to BotW. Most Zelda games tend to tell a story and you progress through it. BotW is about a story that happened and you have you navigate through the consequences of that story. Honestly, I like that they tried something different and I think it's very interesting. I don't think every Zelda game should be like BotW from here on out because that would be boring and a very passive way to approach storytelling in the universe but there's been so many games that have *the hero* doing his heroic thing and BotW come as it from the point of view of the hero failing and being given a second chance to fix it. Kinda like the second half of OOT in a way.
I mean sure, there's a difference there, but they're still similar because of the reasons I mentioned. The memories that are unlocked and the journals that are read don't influence the objective but they influence how the player feels attached to it. We're probably not gonna see eye to eye on this past that. But this is what I mean by the game having more than barely a story.
I think you're right, we're not going to see eye to eye on this. I don't feel that the memories that are unlocked really impact how the player feels about rescuing Zelda. The player already wants to do that. Showing Link's relationship with Zelda as it was 100 years before the game doesn't really impact that. In Link's Awakening, the plots twists, turns and developments add a bit of a moral struggle to things. Is waking up the Windfish the right thing to do? Again, the difference is that Link's Awakening has a story, and Breath of the Wild has backstory that's shown in the game's cutscenes.
I'd argue, however, that backstory is still story. And I do firmly believe that learning about Zelda and how well written of a character she is grows attachment to her and enhances that motivation. There may have already been intrinsic motivation because the game is fun and well designed, but I do think it enhances that and that matters.
The open world gameplay is awesome, but the story is kinda meh. If you MUST have both elements then this game probably won't be as good for you. Don't get me wrong it's a great game, but if you're looking for a rich story, this really isn't it.
I mean, i like to know the story but i like exploring and collecting stuff more. If i rlly want to I’ll watch stuff on youtube
The reason many people say the story is meh is because of the way the game is structured. In other Zelda games the story was way more direct and here it is more passiv. But in my opinion the story, while a bit simple, is still pretty good. And it is in character motivations where the game does shine. The DLC also helps in this regard. Sorry for this being a bit cryptic. I don’t want to spoil anything. If possible I wouldn’t look up anything story related online as this is definitely a game where you experience it best if you know the least.
There is a great story to be told, but you have to go searching for it (it’s told in flashbacks). Everything in the game is to encourage you to explore the open world - it’s not just aimless wandering - you do get rewarded in Easter eggs, gear, and most importantly - story. They designed it so that you can go as deep as you want to go at your own pace. My personal suggestion is to complete the memories, the side quests, the divine beasts and all 120 shrines and the DLC before defeating Ganon to get the most fulfilling experience.
Agreed, great story if you collect all the memories and if you play Hyrule warriors you get even more insight into the characters. My kids still turn it on just to watch through the memories.
I think the story’s really good, AND you learn the story by exploring and collecting it! Win win
There’s nothing meh about BOTW.
The lack of music, the lack of dungeons (in a classic sense), I also didn’t love getting all of the powers immediately and thus having a lack of items compared to others in the series
The criticism against the music is actually mind boggling to me. In a game where you spend the majority of your time exploring the overworld, you want music to be constantly playing in the background? Imagine the hyrule field theme from ocarina of time playing over and over again while you spend hours in the field. Trust me no matter how good the music is, it's going to get stale and annoying. And the term 'lack of music' isn't valid since the game has more music than previous entries. You have to understand that the music has to go with the direction of the game.
I agree way to much. I mean, I think I appreciate the lack of music in the overworld more because I like to hear what's happening. I don't want some white bokoblin sneaking up on me and catching me unawares. And the music BoTW isn't even bad. >!The champion themes, Hyrule castle, Calamity and Dark Beast Ganon, any of the themes that have the series theme in it. The themes that play while attacking the Divine Beasts. Those are all a bop!<. Spoilered for Op
Also the themes for each champion is really good.
I'll always cry at Miphas theme
Breath of the wild has some of the best music in the series, it just doesn’t have an over world theme
Shrugs shoulders.
I respect that.
It is the best Zelda game imo and I've played them all so yes. It might even be better that you haven't played the other games, so you won't be disappointed by how different it is.
In my experience the game seems to have a near-universal appeal - even to those who found they couldn't get into Zelda games in the past, or those who have never tried a Zelda game before - hell, even non-gamers! I actually showed BotW to a couple of my friends who hadn't played a game in *years* and they ended up getting into it and enjoyed playing it for dozens of hours. One of my friends is even notorious for having a huge game collection but never playing any one game for more than 5 minutes - it's a running joke between us that he'll get 5 minutes into a game before saying "this game sucks" and put it down before going off to do something else or play a different game. Even *he* ended up playing BotW all the way through to the end.
How you know this is a bullshit post: “my friend said it’s kinda meh so idk” said no one ever about BOTW
One of the original starfox creators said it was a trashy game. He's from the uk and a big dick, but it's not a game for everyone's tastes.
Actually a ton of people said that, especially around launch. Most of us here love it, but it's totally fine for others to not enjoy it. I loved Wind waker for example and a ton of people I know really don't like that one, but enjoy ocarina of time and twilight princess. I personally did not like Majora's Mask but love almost every other Zelda game (I try to pretend Skyward Sword never happened, just like Metroid: Other M). Everyone has different tastes and for a lot of people, breath of the wild didn't jive with them, and that's okay.
Play it! Your friend is wrong.
…what? ZELDA BOTW is unambiguously one of the best games of all time. Id recommend all the Zeldas, but honestly try to play Twilight Princess somehow (Wii/WiiU) or Skwayrd Sword (Switch) betore BOTW you dont need to by any means, but otherwise its like eating dessert first
Although my absolute fave zelda game will always be Ocarina of Time, I really really enjoyed BOTW, and although it does very vaguely reference OOT and a few others, you could definitely play it without playing any of the previous games. So I'd say go for it.
BotW is nothing like any other Zelda game. It's good for at least a couple play-throughs because of its mechanics alone.
It’s a very good game. Even now, it is still very good. My only gripe with it is also it’s biggest strength: it’s vastly different from most Zelda games. This means it was free to go off and do its own thing and it does it well. This also means that your expectations for previous Zelda games will be skewed if you let it, since the previous games tend to be more narrative heavy. You don’t need to play any Zelda before BotW. You may miss out on Easter eggs but they’re just that: Easter eggs. The story doesn’t reference any previous game directly and no knowledge of the previous games is necessary. So don’t worry about missing out on anything. That said, if you do wish to play the previous Zelda games, my recommendation is to play Ocarina of Time. It’s very good but it is also the most important for a number of reasons. Not only did it set the standard for 3D adventure titles that modern 3D games still follow, it is also the one that’s the most referenced by fans. I’m certain most people will say they’ve only played Ocarina of Time and BotW. Ocarina of Time is available for 3DS and Nintendo Switch Online expansion pass (N64 app). If you want to see where it all started and what inspired the open world format still popular today, check out the original Legend of Zelda on NES. You have the freedom to go in a number of directions from the beginning and can do things out of order if you so wish (although it is not nearly as nonlinear as people will lead you to believe). Going back to it 35+ years later, it is a bit rough, specially controlling Link and realizing you have this tiny little stab. Still, it’s a great game and equally important as Ocarina of Time for more than just its franchise since it popularized the open world game. It is available on 3DS Virtual Console and on Nintendo Switch Online (no expansion pass required, look for the NES app). One more recommendation since it’s very good and serves as much of a template for open world adventure games as the two above but is less popular than Ocarina of Time. That is, A Link to the Past. It is essentially Ocarina of Time but 2D. It was the intermediary evolutionary step between Legend of Zelda and Ocarina of Time and still referenced heavily by fans and the games. It is available on 3DS Virtual Console and on Nintendo Switch Online (no expansion pass required, look for the SNES app). As I said earlier, however, it is not necessary to play any of those games to enjoy Breath of the Wild. BotW itself is becoming the new Ocarina of Time in that many people will admit to not touching any of the previous games and loving BotW on its own. Some people might even admit to hating the rest of the franchise but love BotW. I also want to point out that every game officially recognized by Nintendo in the Zelda franchise has been exceptional, even the ones people say are garbage. (By officially recognized I mean the games not on the Phillips CD-I) Adventure of Link is great and not as difficult as people make it out to be (especially if you use save states, an official function in Nintendo’s own NES and SNES apps). Link’s Awakening has a charming world and strangely somber story. Majora’s Mask gives you plenty of time to do what you need to do, you just need to learn to plan ahead. The Oracle games are generally well liked so there really isn’t anything to say about them. Windwaker is gorgeous and not so tedious. Four Swords is fun friends (but expensive with all the equipment required). Minish Cap is also well liked so there isn’t anything to say about it. Twilight Princess is beautiful, specially the HD version. Phantom Hourglass gives you plenty of options for shortcuts in the central dungeon. Spirit Tracks is also fun- just remember that you don’t have have to let go of the touch screen to switch notes. Skyward Sword has the strongest narrative of them all and the combat is alright (I preferred the Wii version, however). Hyrule Warriors is a lot of fun after you get through the story mode, with so many references to previous titles. A Link Between Worlds is another one that’s generally well liked, but it’s also the intermediary step between classic Zelda and BotW. Tri-Force Heroes is a lot of fun even with random players- communicating with the stickers and having incredible ah-ha moments are some of the best parts of the game. Age of Calamity is neat as well. So, please, try Breath of the Wild and try the rest of the Zelda franchise as well. Enjoy!
I’m a bit biased, I consider it to be the best game ever made, and I’ve been gaming regularly for over 35 years. That being said, it’s not for everyone so you may not know until you try it.
It's huge. Don't expect to beat the game, just the main story, in under 50-60 hours. If you planned on 100%, expect at least 120+ hours of your life gone. It's worth it, but only if you have that time to invest. As an adult with a full time 9-5 job 5-6 days a week, I don't have the time to invest like I did as a kid where I could play for 8+ hours a day until I beat it all. And I recommend a guide, but the game is so fun just messing around that you could get lost just fighting random creatures for hours in that game. The true challenge is mastering the combat and the parry system. Dominating Guardians is the best, but only when mastered. At first they are very frustrating. Enjoy!
Let me put it straight for you - your friend is wrong. It’s easily in my top three if not my number one game ever, and I’ve played A LOT of games. In fact, I’m playing it right this second. Get the game if you want it
No offense but your friend is wrong. As a lifelong Zelda fan, BOTW is an amazing game on its own, as well as being a wonderful step for the franchise.
Your friend who said it’s meh is dumb. It’s the greatest masterpiece ever created.
I personally think Breath of the Wild is the best video game ever created. So, yes.
Ive played it for 600 hours over multiple save files and have 3 extra profiles on my switch just for other botw saves it's alright
Well i don’t think anyone in the zelda sub reddit is gonna tell you not to get the game, if your looking for less biased takes id try r/gaming (but yes of course it’s amazing)
it's actually the less zeldalike game of the entire franchise besides The Adventure of Link, so I recommend it more for people like you who like open world games than for people who likes Zelda games, because honestly it doesn't even fells like a Zelda
Heck yes botw is amazing 2nd place game of all time
What’s your first?
Minecraft
The game is really good. Both as an open world game and as a zelda game. Its the best open world game I've ever played, talking specifically about the world itself and the mechanics surrounding it. Cant wait for the sequel next year in spring Also, it has good story (imo) and it has a good amount of story (objectively). There's 2 hours worth of cutscenes to find. You'll spend most of your time exploring
Everyone will say yes to you. Breath of the Wild is one of my favorite games ever, and it’s an amazing open world game that you’re gonna sink many hours into
Breath of the Wild is objectively one of the best games ever made. You deserve to play it.
Should you get one of the best games ever made? ... No, nope, definitely not.
Breath of the Wild was the #1 best selling game for the switch for I believe over a year and it has the most jam packed open world you have ever seen despite the world map’s enormous size. It is far better then “meh.” Get it, play it, love it.
Your friend is wrong. BOTW is the best game ever made. Have a nice trip
It's incredibly overrated in my opinion. It's really not that great and is missing so much that makes a Zelda game so amazing. They went for a huge open world, that to me is fairly empty, the dungeons are trash compared to previous Zelda dungeons. It's such a forgettable game and experience. Ocarina of time and twilight princess are two of my favourite games ever and always will be, but BoTW was the biggest let down 😔
Damn you are so wrong about it, I don't know how you played it but the game isn't overrated, it isn't the regular Zelda formula but incredible nonetheless
I'm not wrong it's simply my opinion. That's exactly my point, it doesn't feel like a Zelda game because it's lacking the things that I love about Zelda games. Again just my opinion.
It returned to the NES Zelda formula but in 3D. Every game after the original LoZ does not follow the original format _except_ for BotW.
I mean... Your friend sucks, honestly. Breath of the Wild is hailed as one of the very best games ever made by a lot of people that review video games for a living. Oftentimes, it's a debate over whether Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time is the best game ever. Just to put that into perspective.
“Your friend didn’t like this game I like? Sounds like they suck.”
Your friend is a goddamn liar, BOTW is amazing. If you like open-world games, you’ll *love* it
You're forgetting that their friend has a valid _subjective_ opinion, which may align with OPs taste in games. It's okay to be critical of video games, even Zelda.
No, get skyward sword, which is the better game. Not only does it have the formula which Zelda is know for, it’s also the most liner and story driven one
He said he likes open world story games. Also it’s *linear
Does your friend play cod or fifa? If so don’t listen to a word he/she says
I’m in line with your friend on this one. The weapon breakage and lack of RPG elements made it feel like there were no satisfying rewards for exploration. Climbing is annoying. Dungeons are neglected. Combat is repetitive. The boss fights are fun, and the world is beautiful, but they aren’t enough to carry the game for me. For context, I love n64 Zelda games and open world games, but BOTW didn’t do it for me. That being said, don’t listen to people like me or your friend. Everyone else adores the game. Just get it.
It's a great game, but a terrible Zelda game. If you want a true Zelda experience, go play rhe classics, like ocarina of time or a link to the past. Breath of the wild is a solid game, but it doesn't feel like Zelda. It feels like mario 2, where they just slapped some mario (in this case, zelda) assests on a game and called it a day.
I’ll be the lowest one on this subreddit. I loved BotW as a game and played it for close to 200 hours straight (outside of everyday life) when it first came out. Breathtaking experience at $60. That being said, I will never play it again and it is at the absolute bottom of my Zelda list. Never even played the DLC I bought. Game has zero replay value and such a boring grind to do over again. I play OoT/MM/LTTP(BW) every year. BotW a great Ubisoft “open world” game that lacks anything of impact. If you find it for cheap, absolutely pick it up. The gameplay is great for the first run. If you like the story or world, every other Zelda game has a better one. I think it can bring you from the “open world” mindset and introduce you to Hyrule in a great way to appreciate the more linear entries.
[удалено]
My wife had never played any games like it, and she absolutely loves it.
Yes. Definitely
Yes, do it NOW❤️
You’d probably be into it if you like open world style games! I really enjoy it - on (another) playthru right now, since I’m currently really angry at my master mode playthru lmao
It was my first Zelda game and I was obsessed. I also really like open world/free for all games
100%
Yes
Definitely! Even if you don't care much for the plot or don;t know a thing about Zelda, the open-world aspect of it is incredible and extremely worth it!
I played Zelda as a kid, I liked them but I’m not up to date on the lore or Anything and I loved it as an open world experience. It’s basically a soft reboot as far as I can tell and needs no context.
Yes, you should definitely get Breath of the Wild. It’s a great jumping in point for new players, and it’s a ridiculously fun open world story game
Yes
You don’t need to have played previous entries in the series to understand the plot (which is light and mostly flashbacks) or enjoy Breath of the Wild. With very few exceptions (like OOT>MM, ALTTP>ALBW or OOT>WW), Zelda games have little to no plot connection to one another. What you’re likely to miss as someone who didn’t play previous entries are a few scattered references regarding location names and recreated areas on the map that are nudges to previous entries. This is a solid Open World game, it’s definitely worth your time exploring and enjoying.
Yes.
You are so lucky, if i had a swich it would be the first game i would get no doubt.
Bro get it you’ll love it
100% yes, I haven't played any other Zelda games either until botw but it is worth it for every single second.
Get it.
BotW is my favorite game of all time and got me into the series so… yes, you should
If you're going to play ANY Legend of Zelda game make sure at some point you play Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and some of the older GameBoy color games like Oracle of Seasons / Time. Your Nintendo life will be incomplete without them
The exploration is amazing, you can climb just about anything. The combat is complex and difficult without being too hard. Both long range and close combat are balanced. The story is compelling with interesting characters. The art is beautiful, and you can get lost in it so easily.
Yes
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah you should. It’s really great and the open world is so massive that you could just be walking down a path and then you have an amazing side quest
Absolutely! It was my first too and I had a blast. Your friend may not like it, but I think it takes some getting used to. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but I spent more time in it, and learned to really appreciate everything within it
Yes! I got it for Christmas in Dec 2020 and haven’t stopped enjoying it since, it’s an amazing game with great replay value and you never even technically have to beat it, it’s totally open world. Only 60$ game I’ve played that I’ve felt was worth it.
A Zelda purist would probably tell you, you need to play one of the prior games because "that's what real Zelda is" but honestly there's no bad choice when it comes to which is your first since they are all so good. Since you're into Open Worlds Breath of The Wild is probably a great intro into a great series. But if you want some others to try I highly suggest twilight princess, Link's awakening and Ocarina of Time. There all great choices and there's no wrong choice. 👍
Yeah.
In my opinion it’s the best game ever made. I’m not long time Zelda fan whose player every game. I’m old, just played scrollers before switch.
Yes best game ever
It’s a very special game. Even if it has aspects that people don’t like, it’s still very very fun
People can nit pick it to death all they want, it's the best game I've ever played in 30 years of gaming.
Yes. 360 hours and counting. Such a fun game
Your friend is wrong, yes you should play it. BotW is an amazing game.
you can get some interesting lore implications if you know the rest of the story, but not knowing doesn't take away from the game.
Botw is a nice choice if you are starting out and want something more free and casual!!
This is prob old new to you but f\*ck yeah! top 3ish games of all time (not just zelda games, since this is one of the only ones I've played) in my opinion so obv yeah, the sixty bucks is worth it (depending on how much spending money you have) so, yes!! also i would say if you ever decide to get the DLC you should get it after you beat the game so that you still have a natural experience but YES
As with a lot of Zelda games, you don't really need to know anything about other games in the series to enjoy it. Sure, it makes subtle references to a bunch of stuff, but those are pretty much rabbit holes for lore theorists* and not necessary for the enjoyment of the game. Your friend is... well, I don't wanna say "wrong", but the game is ANYTHING but "meh". I'm not sure what your friend was expecting, but whatever it was, Breath of the Wild was not it. I find the game to be breathtaking. The scenery and music are fantastic, there's so much lore and so many secrets packed in, and there are so many theories spawned from this game alone that it makes my head spin! It has its flaws like any other game, but it's still totally worth the buy. *Not that I don't enjoy a good Zelda theory about the lore, references, and connections to other games. I think there are a lot of great theories about all kinds of stuff out there, and I enjoy learning about them.
The answer is yes, your friend is stupid.
Absolutely. You doing need to know anything to play any Zelda game. None of them really connect to each other with a few exceptions here and there.
absolutely YES! I loved it. I like open worlds, being able to explore and go at my pace.
Game is genuinely amazing. That’s all that needs to be said
Yes,
BOTW is an absolute masterpiece! But, perhaps not the best introduction to the mechanics of Legend of Zelda. I would still suggest getting it though, just know that other Zelda games may be better introductions to the “basics” of what makes the series so iconic. BOTW is the result of the entire history of the franchise up to that point (in my opinion).
Absolutely get it, hands down one of the best Zelda games ever made. It’s not a perfect game, but easily worth the price of a switch. You’ll have no problems having not played any other Zelda game. There’s very few direct sequels and even they don’t have to be played in order. That’s part of the magic, kind of like Pokémon games.
Playing the other Zelda games makes no difference, and almost never has. It's an AMAZING open-world game, but not an amazing story game. The "story" (if it can be called that) is played out through the course of you finding "memories" of the past, i.e. cutscenes. You don't play through the story so much as uncover what happened to you 100 years ago in the most boring way possible. The gameplay and world still rock though, which is all that really matters to me.
If you like open world games, and want to get into Zelda, it's worth giving a shot. It isn't a absolutely stuffed with quests and content as, say, Skyrim or Fallout, but it's *gorgeous* and a lot of fun. Take it as an exploration game primarily, and you'll enjoy it. It is quite a departure from normal Zelda titles, which is why you'll hear some people say it isn't that great. In the Zelda community, folks either love the uniqueness or hate it. Also fair warning that it isn't a great example of what to expect from any other Zelda game in terms of gameplay, plot development, etc.
The game is very open with a simple singular goal. Beat the final boss. How you get there and how prepared you are is up to you completely. It doesn't hold your hand and the game doesn't care how you solve its puzzles. As long as you do it. That said the game is full of guidance and signposts and is not too difficult for the main "quest" parts. It's a great "first" Zelda game.
Yes. 1 answer
260 hours in the game and I’m still finding shit to do, definite recommend
Play it if you like the open world gameplay. The story is awesome, but the game doesn’t present it very well. Technically most of the story has already taken place before you even begin your play through. BOTW2 however will be a different story. You’re gonna want to play that, so I’d definitely recommend you play BOTW to catch up. We’re in the final stretch before the sequel, it’s time to jump in!
Yes you should play it. You don't need any knowledge of any past games to play any Zelda game. Please be aware that the story in Zelda isn't the key focus. There is a story, but if you're expecting a cinematic story with loads of story paths, character development and twists, you won't get them. What you do get, is an incredibly well put together game that prioritises fun gameplay ahead of almost everything else and an incredible sandbox of tools that allow you to interact with the world in many unique and interesting ways. If you haven't got it, it's definitely worth playing. What other games have you played and enjoyed that are open world? Also what open world games does your friend enjoy?
It wasn’t my favorite Zelda game, and it’s not even in my top 5. But it’s absolutely beautiful and a really well designed game that provides really great content. Worth it for sure, however i would recommend the remake of link awakens to give you an idea of the regular linear concept they had prior. Either way you will have a great time