Over the years the video game industry has produced some truly amazing games but the best ones are the ones that leave a lasting impression on you, creating memories and emotions. Sometimes you’ll hear a short clip of a soundtrack and the feelings of nostalgia will wash right over you. I can’t hear the opening theme to Ocarina of Time without immediately thinking of all the good times I had during my childhood, discovering and exploring Hyrule for the first time with my friends, all huddled around a small TV in my bedroom and staying up way past my bed time.
There are of course some games that have gained universal critical acclaim. From Metal Gear Solid to Skyrim, some games are just hard not to like and are rightly heralded as masterpieces. But one game that often stands above the rest in receiving universal acclaim is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Released in 2017 for the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, Breath of the Wild threw out the rule book when it came to the long running popular series. Gone were the linear dungeons and step by step narrative, replaced by smaller dungeons that could not only be finished in any order but didn’t even needed to be completed at all, it was truly the first open world Zelda, heck you didn’t even need to acquire the master sword to complete the game. You could if you felt inclined go straight to the end boss. You’d probably be crushed in seconds but the option was there for anybody silly, *ahem*, I mean brave enough to try.
Not everyone, myself included, initially took to this new style. Gone was the standard sword and shield you were accustomed to, replaced by breakable weapons and shields, which I have to admit, is probably my most disliked aspect of this game. Gone were the linear paths and story cut-scenes, instead the world was yours to explore after the opening scenes, where you are shown some of the ways of this world. After that, you’re on your own.
Breath of the Wild is at times such a calming experience. The music is minimal and soothing whilst you explore, unless you come into contact with a guardian, then you’re in heart attack city, and in most cases you’re gonna be close to death.
Nintendo took such a bold step in shaking things up, effecting reinventing what the series is known for. Not many developers are willing to do that with a tried and tested formula in fear of alienating long time fans, but Nintendo risked it and pulled it off. Even the familiar green tunic the iteration of Link usually wears is gone in favour of the champions tunic.
Although the dungeons have been scaled back and most of the narrative is left for you to piece together via memories, as this Link is an amnesiac, having lost his memories during his 100 year recovery period in the chamber of resurrection, the attention to detail is insane and quite frankly not seen in too many games.
It’s a strange contradiction at times as certain things are scaled back but at the same time, made bigger. The music is minimal, you won’t see many NPC’s outside of the few main towns and there are few bosses but what there is, is so rich in detail that it more than makes up for it.
This is a defeated and ravaged Hyrule and everything goes to show this. Towns have been reduced to ash, there is not much life left in Hyrule but at the same time, there is a feeling of hope, you will defeat Ganon and avenge the fallen kingdom and rescue the princess, you can just do it in your own time.
As I mentioned, the game is so rich in detail, the environment especially; walls will become near impossible to climb in rain, having metallic items equipped during a thunderstorm will result in you being struck by lightning and hostile environments will need the correct equipment, food and potions.
The land of Hyrule is huge and so varied. There are deserts, rainforests, snow topped mountains and everything in between and as dark and troubled as the world itself seems, the game is bright and colourful, with the art style somewhat between Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time and for the first time we have full voice acting during the cut-scenes, aside from Link of course who remains silent as ever.
Cooking is a huge part of the game, ingredients and monster parts can be cooked to make food and potions that provide health and buffs, and you’ll need these buffs as the game can be unforgiving at times. Even basic enemies such as moblins can easily wipe you out so each attack needs careful planning and provision.
There are so many little details that make this game feel so realised. Want to get to the bottom of the mountain quickly? You can use your glider or surf down on your shield. There are nods to past games and Easter eggs galore, seeing some familiar locations utterly destroyed crushes you inside and just goes to show how devastated this Hyrule is by the Great Calamity.
Speaking of the Great Calamity, it’s the backdrop of this game and you are constantly reminded of its devastation. Unlike previous Zelda titles, this game doesn’t hold your hand, the aim of the game straight away is to defeat Calamity Ganon, you just need to power yourself up and gather aid before hand. As mentioned gone are the typical dungeons we’ve come to know and love (or hate) and introduced are 4 smaller dungeons, Divine Beasts; mammoth machines that were created many years ago to protect the land, and were also once piloted by the Princess’ chosen Champion. During the Great Calamity, these pilots were defeated by Ganon and their beasts possessed. It’s your job to take back these divine beasts, ridding them of Ganon’s malice and use them in your battle against Calamity Ganon himself.
In addition to these Divine Beasts are Shrines which contain puzzles and once completed give you an orb, which when 4 are collected can be used to provide either an extra heart or extra stamina.
The amount of creativity and attention to detail is what makes this game stand out above the rest. Critically acclaimed games are celebrated because of the amount of effort that has gone into the game to make it so special. You can tell when a game has been rushed or has cut corners and some might say that about Breath of the Wild in regards to the lack of dungeons but the game is so huge and provides plenty of side quests and additional optional gameplay elements that sometimes the only thing you want to do is to hop on your horse and explore.
There is no need for a complex plot or overly fleshed out characters because that’s not what this game is about nor is it what it needs. This game is simply about avenging a destroyed kingdom, avenging those friends who have fallen and most of all, rescuing that Princess and it allows you to do this, whilst providing an experience not seen in too many a game.
When it comes down to it, everybody’s opinion is different on what is the best video game of all time. That’s what makes the gaming community so great, a game you’re not too fond of will be someone’s favourite and in their opinion the best game ever and vice versa. I do consider Breath of the Wild to be the greatest game made so far, it’s not my favourite but what it achieves and the amount of detail and thought put into it puts it right up their at the top.
Everyday of the Geek 