The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
So I finally revisited this game on the Switch after my initial playthrough on the Wii U back in 2017 and my thoughts pretty much still remain unchanged, even after the DLC and an additional 235 hours with the game. After 3 years, Breath of the Wild is still incredibly brilliant and still just as immersive on a subsequent playthrough as it was the first time playing it.
I'm still not on board with the way Nintendo chose to implement specific conventions, like the removal of dungeons, in favor of bite sized puzzle rooms scattered across the map. A lot of the game's main content seems to follow this type of formula as well, as the game's story is presented through memories you have to track down across Hyrule. While this works for now, it still feels like a half solution to keep exploration open-ended to justify the massive game world.
That's not to say the massive map and freedom to explore is the issue here, in fact, they're the game's biggest strengths, but it is very apparent that Nintendo struggled to balance the linear progression of past entries with the freedom to explore any and everything from the start of the game.
Which is really my biggest problem when discussing this game, because Breath of the Wild does a tremendous job bringing the series back to its exploration based roots. The new physics engine not only brings about new possibilities in both combat and puzzle solving, but it impacts the way in which you can explore the world, which is also greatly expanded by the new climbing mechanic, which adds yet another dimension to exploration. Survival has never been more prominent in a Zelda game as you now have to mine for materials, hunt and cook recipes for food, and constantly pick up new weapons to defend yourself with. There are so many new layers to Breath of the Wild that enhance the overall experience and push the series forward, but is the trade-off worth it?
Like Ocarina of Time before it, Breath of the Wild has changed the way we think about and play Zelda games and I can honestly say that it was for the best. While I don't believe certain conventions necessarily had to be compromised in order to keep the game open, which is something they could potentially remedy moving forward, I do however believe it was worth it in order for the series to grow. But as a longtime fan of the series, I still harbor some frustrations over the lack of unique boss battles, traditional dungeons, classic items, and a linear structured story, but not once did I ever find myself bored or unhappy during my near 500 total hours on this grand adventure, which speaks more than any gripe or nitpick I could ever make.
10/10
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
After having played games like The Minish Cap, A Link to the Past, and A Link Between Worlds, Link's Awakening just kind of felt redundant and fell off my radar, so I never touched it despite having easy access to it on the 3DS. But after Nintendo announced they'd be remaking it on the Switch, I finally had a reason to give the game a shot and I was very pleasantly surprised.
While I can't really compare and contrast the original from the remake, from what I gather, it's a pretty faithful remake, but with some more oomph. Having said that, my mind was completely blown by how enjoyable, unique, and influential to the series Link's Awakening was for a mere Gameboy game that I was so easy to disregard.
The kind of content present is just so much different from what I'm used to with top down Zelda games and I mean that in the best way. The 2D segments, fishing, the crane game, all the Mario characters, and even the way some of the story beats play out is so refreshing and the kind of creativity I want to see from brand new top down Zelda games. But the brand new charming visuals, updated soundtrack, and new button inputs can't be understated as they're a big part of why I enjoyed this game as much as I did too.
The game is a little on the short side however and took me about 15-20 hours to complete. It's very straightforward compared to other top down Zelda games, but that's not exactly a negative either as the entire game is a showcase of quality design that feels satisfying in its simplicity and even gets significantly complex and difficult near the end.
Unfortunately, there is one major sore spot in this remake that sours the experience for completionists, and that's the brand new dungeon builder. It's a solid concept but it's rendered meaningless without the ability to share your creations online. But that's not even the worst aspect of it. Heart containers and other miscellaneous items are locked behind what should have been an optional mode. I was at the very end of the game before I noticed things weren't adding up and had to look online only to learn that I had to clear a number of dungeon building challenges to get the rest of my missing items and I honestly can't imagine having to sit through this again whenever I want to start up a new file.
While it's still not my favorite of the top down formula games, and is a little short to warrant the 60 dollar price tag, the fun to be had from this game is like Christmas, and belongs in everyone's Switch collection.
8.5/10
