Random Video Game Review - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

 

So it's been a while since the last mainline Zelda game, and it kind of feels strange in a way. You see Zelda is, in no way, a stranger to being the first or last game to be released on a platform, and it feels nice to see this game arrive at a point where the Switch is showing its age, but can still do stuff after these years of being around. Sure a lot of games that go on it, are cloud based games which does mean an internet connection is needed and sure, some of the bigger games like the most recent games from WB, struggle to even look like how it's being played on other platforms. But it's got a lot of great stuff going for it and whether this year will be when we find out what the next Nintendo console will be, I hope the Switch ends on a high because it's a first in a long time for Nintendo to only have just the one console over having one for the home and another for going out and about. So this game existed originally as DLC for its predessor Breath of the Wild, but the development has gone to the point where it has to be its own game and yeah I can see why. So let's see if this much anticipated Zelda game (as most of those games are), lives up to expectations and the rest of it:

Set years after the last game and at the end of the Zelda timeline, Link and Zelda (reprised by Patricia Summersett) explore a cavern beneath Hyrule castle. They learn some things about a "Demon King" who soon comes to life and has the castle hover over the kingdom, has Zelda disappear with an artifact and Link's arm merges with a mummy's arm which he soon learns is the arm of a being that came before. Together with this being, Link traverses both Hyrule and its floating islands to learn how to deal with the Demon King and save Zelda again in the process and, of course, deal with the many problems that Hyrule is facing. Much of the game is a rehash of Breath of the Wild, in which it's an open world sandbox game. Link can climb, fight, eat and the usual RPG stuff that came with the previous game. The floating islands are new and much like on the ground surface, they have its own challenges like new shrines to visit, much more powerful bosses and more. There is also a place called the Depths which is beneath Hyrule and will test Link in its challenging and unforgiving gameplay. You have some new Runes to play with, and new devices called Zonai devices which will help Link. Korok seeds make a comeback too and serve the same purpose as before of giving you something for every time you get a certain amount of them. Finally, the game gives us a reason to brush dust off our Amiibos and use them to give Link things to help in his quest (some being exclusive to certain figures).

Overall, while it will feel like Breath of the Wild all over again, it's a good game. It may play out in an all too similar fashion to its mainline predecessor, but with new challenges, new areas to visit and new problems for Link to take on, it feels very fresh. Of course the presentation and how it performs are not quite up to the standard of games these days on the technical side of things, but it's a good game and one that no one will forget about any time soon.