(04.04.2017) By Liv Minshall — The Legend of Zelda series has a reputation of taking innovations from Nintendo’s latest consoles and blending them into its core principles of gameplay. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is no different, utilizing the newest console, the Nintendo Switch, to its greatest capabilities.
Released last month alongside the Nintendo Switch, Breath of the Wild has become the “best reviewed game of all time,” with nearly every major review outlet giving it a perfect score.
Picking up the game, it is very clear why people give it so much praise. I’ve played the game on both the Switch and on the Wii U, and the game is crisp and beautiful on both. There is some lag that comes with playing it on the Wii U, but it is not very distracting. Load times are almost instant on both consoles.
Combat in the game is also at the perfect level of difficulty, and there are many different unique weapons and shields to pick up all over Hyrule, the series’ setting.
New to the series there are many different character customization and armor options to be found. Cooking and crafting is also introduced in this game, incorporated into adjustable character stats.
The story of this game, much like the others in the series, is magical and intriguing, with just enough nostalgia to hit home for long-time fans.
The addition of voice acting for the first time in the series made me nervous, but as per tradition Link is the silent protagonist, and the voice acting is applied to other characters. The voicing is wonderful, adding a depth to the story and characters that has been lacking in previous games.
There is so much to do in this game, so much so that at first it can be overwhelming. However, you will quickly find a groove and lose yourself in this immense and magical new Hyrule. There are puzzle-like shrines, side-quests, and familiar dungeons that fans know and love. If you haven’t played Breath of the Wild for the Switch or Wii U yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
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