Let’s make this quick. BotW is good, yes, but I have criticisms. There’s clunky systems, not enough variety in content such as enemy types, and a frustratingly underdeveloped plot. That didn’t stop me playing it for a month straight and loving every minute, though.
The experience of playing the game is joyful, having such a rich world to explore exactly the way you want to. It’s very unlike any other 3D Zelda; at times a strength and weakness. Having freedom and many different tasks to do, collecting weapons and learning to hold them loosely as they will break soon enough, gathering many things into your cavernous pockets. The game is at its best when you’re in the middle of it, seeing something on the horizon and making your way over, then getting into misadventures along the way or distracted by a butterfly.
Only after stepping back for a minute do you consider (for example): I would cook more if the method for doing so wasn’t tedious and obscure. Where are the boss fights that were highlights of past games? Does this story have ANY surprises? In hindsight, and speaking as a Zelda lore-head, this game is the most rebooty Zelda yet, and that bothers me. I loved playing it, but looking at it in the context of the whole series, it seems to be trying to make itself an awkward fit. As a result it’s probably one I will think about less in the years to come.
The game is beautiful and well worth playing. But it fumbled telling a Zelda story. It’s great at worldbuilding, and has some good races and characters (I wish the ghosts of previous Champions were backgrounded more in favour of the living current generation you meet, but oh well). But the ending was a monumental let-down, rushed and completely deflating. I’m trying not to let that fact affect my perception too much, because the game is so full of mystery and exciting setpieces, both engineered and organic. It’s probably the best Zelda yet. But it’s not my favourite.
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