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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Review Thread

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Charamiwa

Banned
Is THPS 2 the one with TNT from ACDC? I remember playing that demo over and over with that song looping forever, it was really good.
 

Anth0ny

Member
Did you even look at the reviews? Scores this high aren't a standard thing in this industry. If it makes you feel any better, GTA did also inspire other games for a decade plus. (And is still doing so, just like SM64/OOT still do.)

GTA 3 did, absolutely.

If someone said "GTA5 will inspire game design for a decade plus like Mario 64 did" I'd call them a hyperbolic fool the exact same way. Because, as fucking incredible as GTA5 is, it's just not going to have the same impact as a game like GTA3, let alone Mario 64.


Same deal with BOTW. Incredible game? Yes. Will influence games like Mario 64 did? That's fucking dumb and hyperbolic.

But it's pretty clear at this point that anyone who says anything in this thread less than OMG GOAT NEW MOST INFLUENTIAL GAME EVER is labelled a hater or salty or whatever the fuck.
 
I've been saying it because it's true!

nothing can touch chat Mario 64 did for game design. NOTHING. that's a once in a lifetime paradigm shift. BOTW is not that, nor does it have to do that to be considered an incredible game.

I've seen your posts before on Mario 64, you've got real knowledge and appreciation for that game. You're probably right, and if anything I'm more inclined to play the game with that thought in mind than the idea that I'll be experiencing anything like how Mario 64 moved 3D gaming forward. but my dude, I think there's something to be said for how the breadth of meaningful world interaction in Zelda appears to provide context for every step of your journey. A lot like Minecraft, actually, a really organic, accessible, and enabling take on what it means for an open world RPG to feature survival elements, physics, and world interaction. That's the kind of shit I want to see in more open world games, and I think we will.
 

Raven117

Member
I'm legitimately wondering about this. I haven't played any open world games before, and I'm wondering: is Zelda really so different from them? What makes it that much better?

Don't get me wrong: I'm really excited for BotW. But it did always seem to me like just another open world game with some extra Zelda flavor. What about its game design really differentiates it?

Yup. This. Im not pessimistic or anything. I'm just not going to let the hype train take me away.

Im VERY curious what an Open world looks like to Nintendo...and how it has supposedly changed the formula so much.

I mean, we live in a world where Skyrim (and Morrowind), Witcher 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, GTAV, Red Dead Redemption, and many Ubisoft games, exists. (and hell, we have Ultima before that...the ancient dragon of them all).

What does Zelda do that is remarkably different from the above?

Can't wait to find out.
 

Tahnit

Banned
lol, Zelda got inspired from a decade of open world games (from Assassin's Creed to The Witcher 3 basically) and made a great mix out of this genre to fit the sense of adventure of a Zelda game, not the same way around. It's a total shift in strategy (and game design) for Nintendo, at least on the Zelda brand, thanks to an understanding of the potential of open worlds games.

The hype is clouding some minds here (sorry to tell you this when everyone has been touching themselves with 10/10 for a 110 pages now)

....I dont even know where to begin.

oh wait yes i do. Do you realize that the legend of zelda was the very FIRST open world game period? Zelda inspired all of the games you mentioned. The sense of adventure, the unknown, all of it.

Do some research before you shitpost.
 

Nintenleo

Member
Looking back, well, Botw really deserved to be the "only" Nintendo game at E3. You have got to fucking celebrate your "magnus opera".

(...especially when you didn't have much else to show :p)
 

Skilletor

Member
Let this be a lesson to all you 1080p60 folks.

Gameplay > Graphics.

Every. Single. Time.

Nintendo just told the industry that the way they have been making games is no longer good enough.

This is fucking stupid.

It's not one or the other, ever. And every game that is >1080p60fps would be a better game if it were.

Every. Single. Time.
 
I'm legitimately wondering about this. I haven't played any open world games before, and I'm wondering: is Zelda really so different from them? What makes it that much better?

Don't get me wrong: I'm really excited for BotW. But it did always seem to me like just another open world game with some extra Zelda flavor. What about its game design really differentiates it?

I think the big thing heading forward will likely be that Ubisoft towers don't give you everything you need to know within a region, preserving a sense of discovery. Also perhaps these modular mechanics that build on each other very well, but don't need to be engaged to complete the game.

Most of the other stuff are polished or working versions of stuff other open-world games do, with a bit of Nintendo charm. Like Blizzard - Overwatch isn't innovative, but it polishes existing mechanics and brings them together with skill - Nintendo just learns really well.
 

Shaanyboi

Banned
l've read at least three reviews that mention that one particular island and the crazy stuff happening on it, without any specifics being given. Goddamn l can't wait to play that game.
The spoiler-marked section of the GiantBomb Quick Look goes into it a bit.
 

Mr E.

Member
....I dont even know where to begin.

oh wait yes i do. Do you realize that the legend of zelda was the very FIRST open world game period? Zelda inspired all of the games you mentioned. The sense of adventure, the unknown, all of it.

Do some research before you shitpost.

I think Elite deserves that honour. Not knocking Zelda though.
 
My body was not ready for all those claims of the greatest Zelda game ever........does this mean i have to start comparing to Breath of the Wild and not Ocarina now?damn...
 

Raven117

Member
....I dont even know where to begin.

oh wait yes i do. Do you realize that the legend of zelda was the very FIRST open world game period? Zelda inspired all of the games you mentioned. The sense of adventure, the unknown, all of it.

Do some research before you shitpost.

HAHAHAHAHA, oh man.

Maybe you should do some research yourself: Ultima: The First Age of Darkness, 1981 to name at lease ONE open world before Zelda.
 

The_Lump

Banned
C57oXErWcAAvJz7.jpg:large

I'm done.

Close the Internet. We've achieved all we can.

/dead
 

Sojiro

Member
anybody know which reviews don't spoil story stuff?

So far i've watched GameXplain and ProJared and both didn't spoil any story stuff, but you are watching gameplay that hasn't been shown before, so if that is an issue, you may only want to listen and not watch.
 

Alienous

Member
....I dont even know where to begin.

oh wait yes i do. Do you realize that the legend of zelda was the very FIRST open world game period? Zelda inspired all of the games you mentioned. The sense of adventure, the unknown, all of it.

Do some research before you shitpost.

I don't believe that. The first The Legend of Zelda barely inspired its side-scroller sequel. You'd have to show me the interview where the developers of Grand Theft Auto, or The Witcher, or Far Cry (etc.) name The Legend of Zelda as an inspiration.
 

Robiin

Member
You can feel the hype. The timings Nintendo have chosen with the marketing and embargos on the Switch is really well-thought out.

Console reveal close to release.
Send out console and game to everybody with a voice (reviewers/youtubers etc)
The "you can say anything about the first five hours" let people show how different these five hours could be but still show nothing of the story.
Then review embargo (they basically knew they had a hit) one day before release to hype people up further.
The Twitch streaming embargo one day before release just to settle peoples' hunger for the game.
Release when the hype is at it's peak.

When the second shipments of Switches and Zelda start showing up in stores, I expect an accolades trailer to roll on TV and Youtube ads every hour.

All gaming talk today is basically about this game today, and it's on everybody's minds. And based on the reception, it will stay on peoples' minds.
 

Big One

Banned
....I dont even know where to begin.

oh wait yes i do. Do you realize that the legend of zelda was the very FIRST open world game period? Zelda inspired all of the games you mentioned. The sense of adventure, the unknown, all of it.

Do some research before you shitpost.
Zelda wasn't the first open world game, lol. Maybe first open world action game though. Unsure on that however.

It was inspirational thought and kickstarted an entire genre.
 

Afrodium

Banned
Yup. This. Im not pessimistic or anything. I'm just not going to let the hype train take me away.

Im VERY curious what an Open world looks like to Nintendo...and how it has supposedly changed the formula so much.

I mean, we live in a world where Skyrim (and Morrowind), Witcher 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, GTAV, Red Dead Redemption, and many Ubisoft games, exists. (and hell, we have Ultima before that...the ancient dragon of them all).

What does Zelda do that is remarkably different from the above?

Can't wait to find out.

From what people are saying it's that you can interact with the world in ways that make sense. For example, you can cut down any tree, push it into a nearby river, and use it as a makeshift raft to get to some island. That in and of itself isn't revolutionary, but there's a myriad of similar ways to interact with the world all layered on top of each other, and any solution for achieving a goal is valid.
 

Malus

Member
Is it stopped at 61 reviews or should we expect more next week when new reviewers get their own launch copies?

There should be more trickling in for a while. Just check the review spread on some other titles, Xenoblade X's most recent review for example is April 6 2016, months after launch.
 

lt519

Member
Lol, the reviews are so good people are arguing about whether it'll shape games for years to come or not. How about you all chill and let people be excited, if their excitement is causing you emotional distress, step away from the fucking computer for a couple hours haha.
 

Raven117

Member
From what people are saying it's that you can interact with the world in ways that make sense. For example, you can cut down any tree, push it into a nearby river, and use it as a makeshift raft to get to some island. That in and of itself isn't revolutionary, but there's a myriad of similar ways to interact with the world all layered on top of each other, and any solution for achieving a goal is valid.

I can't wait to find out how this actually plays out. If indeed truly...and I mean truly delivers on this...you are right...it takes the open world formula to another level.
 
Why can't we just all be happy?

A game reaching 98 is practically unseen these days, this is a stellar looking game to boot?

I mean we probably won't see a repeat of this for years
Mario Odyssey will score 99
 

Dystify

Member
GTA 3 did, absolutely.

If someone said "GTA5 will inspire game design for a decade plus like Mario 64 did" I'd call them a hyperbolic fool the exact same way. Because, as fucking incredible as GTA5 is, it's just not going to have the same impact as a game like GTA3, let alone Mario 64.


Same deal with BOTW. Incredible game? Yes. Will influence games like Mario 64 did? That's fucking dumb and hyperbolic.

But it's pretty clear at this point that anyone who says anything in this thread less than OMG GOAT NEW MOST INFLUENTIAL GAME EVER is labelled a hater or salty or whatever the fuck.

So you're saying it won't happen because of reasons, but in my opinion before being able to state that you should play the game first with an open mind. From what I've seen and played it does have potential to have a lasting effect.
 

The_Lump

Banned
We seriously calling into question whether TLoZ inspired many of the current generation of game designers? That is some next level saltiness right there.

I'm out. Enjoy the game guys.
 

Mr E.

Member
Lol, the reviews are so good people are arguing about whether it'll shape games for years to come or not. How about you all chill and let people be excited, if their excitement is causing you emotional distress, step away from the fucking computer for a couple hours haha.
I thought it provided an interesting side topic. It may prove valid in the future.
 

Raven117

Member
ok maybe i was wrong

No worries man. I'm excited too! I haven't had a launch nintendo console since the SNES, and that was also my last home console of the SNES. Last Zelda I played close to release was LttP and Link's Awakening.

Its been a long time coming!
 
What would be an interesting turn would be if the day-1 patch truly does improve the framerate - and any reviewer that gave the game a less-than-perfect score solely due to framerate issues amends their review to reflect that.

Now that would be something!
 

93xfan

Banned
lol, Zelda got inspired from a decade of open world games (from Assassin's Creed to The Witcher 3 basically) and made a great mix out of this genre to fit the sense of adventure of a Zelda game, not the same way around. It's a total shift in strategy (and game design) for Nintendo, at least on the Zelda brand, thanks to an understanding of the potential of open worlds games.

The hype is clouding some minds here (sorry to tell you this when everyone has been touching themselves with 10/10 for a 110 pages now)

You've played it for a lengthy period of time? What is your review?
 
Anyone else feel BOTW's current metacritic score (when taken in context of the different times these games released) is far more impressive than OOT's, Tony Hawk's and GTA IV's metacritic scores?
 

tolkir

Member
I'm legitimately wondering about this. I haven't played any open world games before, and I'm wondering: is Zelda really so different from them? What makes it that much better?

Don't get me wrong: I'm really excited for BotW. But it did always seem to me like just another open world game with some extra Zelda flavor. What about its game design really differentiates it?

There isn't a pre-establish main route. You can go anywhere, whenever. Best definition of sandbox.
 

The_Lump

Banned
lol, Zelda got inspired from a decade of open world games (from Assassin's Creed to The Witcher 3 basically) and made a great mix out of this genre to fit the sense of adventure of a Zelda game, not the same way around. It's a total shift in strategy (and game design) for Nintendo, at least on the Zelda brand, thanks to an understanding of the potential of open worlds games.

The hype is clouding some minds here (sorry to tell you this when everyone has been touching themselves with 10/10 for a 110 pages now)

Interested to here the rest of your in depth review. And congrats on finishing and analysing the game so quickly!
 

Lingitiz

Member
Anyone else feel BOTW's current metacritic score (when taken in context of the different times these games released) is far more impressive than OOT's, Tony Hawk's and GTA IV's metacritic scores?

Absolutely. Reviewers in general are also much harsher this generation as well.
 

Hastati

Member
A combination of score deflation with a general expectation that it was going to underwhelm slightly.

In retrospect, I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised. Reviewers and mainstream gamers love open worlds to bits, they're extremely in-vogue. Zelda is a beloved franchise with a lot of nostalgia behind it. The team working on mainline Zeldas is always the cream of the crop, given ample development resources and plenty of time to polish their games.

Zelda is a series where I appreciate the artistry that went into them, and can understand why people loved them, but at the same time have rarely enjoyed them to the same level that other people did. I guess in a sense I was projecting my own slight frustrations with the series when I was imagining how this one would review.

I can understand this perspective as someone who has never finished a Zelda game. The biggest difference is that open world is a draw for me, and my gut is telling me that I'll pour hundreds of hours into BoTW.

I'm not sure if this level of critical reception means all future Zelda games will be open world, or how this game might change the path of the genre itself (at what point is it no longer a genre?), but I do hope those of us who have yet to be captured by Zelda will be able to enjoy it newly for the same appreciation of artistry that you mention.
 
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