The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild revolves around Link who awakens from a deep slumber in a mysterious cave with no prior knowledge of what has happened or where he is. Link finds a mysterious elderly man who claims to be the spirit of the King of Hyrule, King Rhoam. Link learns that he was put to sleep for over 100 years by Princess Zelda so he could one day return to defeat the Calamity Ganon that terrorizes all of Hyrule. Link then begins his journey to save the people of Hyrule and take back what was lost.
The game itself is primarily an open world game with a narrative guide. You take control of Link and explore the lands of Hyrule by gaining new skills to solve puzzles and learning how to become the greatest knight Hyrule has ever seen. You can explore by foot, horse, or mechanical bike with the expansion of the DLC or glide across the skies via paraglider.
Each region has unique enemies and materials and resources which can be made into tasty dishes or sold for rubles that enable you to buy rare materials or new gear sets for specific battles. Along the way, you will meet tons of friendly people with their own stories about old Hyrule. Around the world, there are shrines which hold puzzles and battles to test your skills and mind and grant you access to Spirit Orbs which increase your health and stamina over time.
There’s always something new to see and collectibles to find and the game will never get old, especially once skills and combat become second nature and possibilities grow from there. For example, Shield Surfing or Bobokin gliding.
There are also tons of weapons waiting to be mastered and used. Each weapon has its own specialty and excels in certain areas. Some are massive hammers that take momentum to swing while some are short swords that allow Link to send a flurry of attacks at once. Some weapons are infused with elements to allow even more combos to be pulled off and defeat the toughest of opponents.
Overall, Breath of the Wild is a fantastic game that offers so much to enjoy. There is no end to secrets and lore you can uncover, and it will keep you coming back again and again.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Written by Jaston Wickend, Lethbridge College
