Written by Yiling 2022 Cohort
Today I accidentally opened my switch account and check my gaming history report. I was surprised to discover that I had spent over 120 hours playing Zelda. While I don’t consider myself a heavy gamer and don’t play games on a daily basis, this particular game has been so engaging that it has kept me up all night on occasion. Then, here is my question, why does this game make me so into it? Also, why do so many people love Zelda all over the world?
I enjoy the most that Zelda is not about completing missions, it is about the exploring experience. At the beginning of the game, the player needs to explore the surroundings and unlock towers to perceive and access the whole map. This is an appealing experience to me since you would never know what will happen next and where your exploration ends. Also, there are 120 Shrines on the map and players should use the sensor to find them and solve the puzzle inside, which will upgrade the player’s ability. Other than this, 900 Korok Seeds are waiting for you to find the hint and get them. These kinds of collections are a lethal combination that encourages me to keep exploring the map and makes the game super playable.
I also enjoy the open-world interactions, which have been complimented many times by other players. In this world, you interact with every object and person, so that players feel they are immersively engaged in the story and the setting. The player can cook, fly, hunt and own their house, and all of these have no instructions but wait for the player to explore. Also, besides finishing the mission and rescuing princess Zelda, you have many options and side stories. That is why some players don’t want to finish the primary mission but keep interacting and exploring the side stories.
Despite gameplay, the art style is also a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game. The use of cel-shading and watercolour-like textures creates a beautiful, painterly world that feels both immersive and artistic. The character designs, costumes design and environments are unique and impressive, which builds a sense of reality, and I barely get motion sickness.
Overall, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild” is a really good game which deserves to be played for years.