Yes, BotW. Extremely dull. I want my hookshot back. It would be nice to have larger, more challenging dungeons with unique bosses instead of solving a few puzzles and then beating the shit out of roughly the exact same ghost. Most the quests are “get me 10 items” fetch quests. How much wood did I collect to build that town? That’s not fun. Majority of the content is wandering through scenery with nothing in it, or climbing for several minutes at a time.
The first two seem to like the game, whereas the third… don’t. I’m part of the third. The Zelda gameplay loop has typically been:
Explore world to find dungeon
Explore dungeon to find the items - new tool, compass, and map
Use new tool to solve puzzles, along with some puzzles using older items
Fight dungeon boss, using the new tool
Use new tool to find secrets in the overworld
Go to 1 until item slots are full
Fight main boss (a form of ganon), which is the most difficult fight in the game
BotW dumbed all of that down and added a lot of grindy mechanics:
korok seeds
shrine orbs
fairy upgrades
cooking
It’s a completely different game and has just enough overlap with the established formula to disappoint. The older Zelda games don’t have any grindy bits unless you really want some piece of equipment early.
So that’s my take. BotW is a decent game, but it’s my least favorite Zelda game. If it wasn’t branded “Zelda” and hyped so much, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it. My kids love it though, so there’s that.
Oh, and I finished BotW just before TotK launched (kinda late, I know), and instead of buying TotK, I bought Skyward Sword and Link’s Awakening and absolutely loved them. If Switch 2 has more games with the classic formula, I’ll buy it, otherwise I’ll probably pass.
I loved BoTW and ToTK, but your criticisms are pretty much on point. I’m hoping a future game can combine the sense of exploration of the newer games with the traditional dungeons and bosses of the older games, with Majora’s Mask level side quests please!
Isn’t that more of a leveling RPG? If I got progressively stronger in BotW instead of just picking up slightly larger weapons I might like it more.
Another problem are that there are like, what, 7 kinds of enemies? Every encampment a small flock of keese, some bokoblins, some lizalfos, a moblin or two. Every situation I just use the same swords and arrows. Surely Skyrim has more varied enemies? If Nintendo are trying to make an expansive game they should put content in it.
Have you tried the new Zelda games.
Yes, BotW. Extremely dull. I want my hookshot back. It would be nice to have larger, more challenging dungeons with unique bosses instead of solving a few puzzles and then beating the shit out of roughly the exact same ghost. Most the quests are “get me 10 items” fetch quests. How much wood did I collect to build that town? That’s not fun. Majority of the content is wandering through scenery with nothing in it, or climbing for several minutes at a time.
Faire enough. Judging by the reception most do like them though.
Botw and totk are my favorite games of all time!!!
Yeah, they do seem to like it. It’s nice to chill but definitely not anywhere near the best Zelda like some people rate it. IDGI.
I think there’s three kinds of Zelda fans:
The first two seem to like the game, whereas the third… don’t. I’m part of the third. The Zelda gameplay loop has typically been:
BotW dumbed all of that down and added a lot of grindy mechanics:
It’s a completely different game and has just enough overlap with the established formula to disappoint. The older Zelda games don’t have any grindy bits unless you really want some piece of equipment early.
So that’s my take. BotW is a decent game, but it’s my least favorite Zelda game. If it wasn’t branded “Zelda” and hyped so much, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it. My kids love it though, so there’s that.
Oh, and I finished BotW just before TotK launched (kinda late, I know), and instead of buying TotK, I bought Skyward Sword and Link’s Awakening and absolutely loved them. If Switch 2 has more games with the classic formula, I’ll buy it, otherwise I’ll probably pass.
I loved BoTW and ToTK, but your criticisms are pretty much on point. I’m hoping a future game can combine the sense of exploration of the newer games with the traditional dungeons and bosses of the older games, with Majora’s Mask level side quests please!
Did you like Skyrim?
I didn’t play it. I like the memes tho.
Isn’t that more of a leveling RPG? If I got progressively stronger in BotW instead of just picking up slightly larger weapons I might like it more.
Another problem are that there are like, what, 7 kinds of enemies? Every encampment a small flock of keese, some bokoblins, some lizalfos, a moblin or two. Every situation I just use the same swords and arrows. Surely Skyrim has more varied enemies? If Nintendo are trying to make an expansive game they should put content in it.