Take the Zelda series in an impressive new open direction that extends beyond its traditional formula The place is still pretty bare, though. If you talk to Bolson, he might be able to help you with that. The rest of the story is simple, familiar to even those who have never played a Zelda game, but the way it is presented is interesting, calling into question the familiar fate of Link and Zelda in a way that made me sympathize with the struggling heroes (in spite of the underwhelming voice performances of Zelda and the supporting cast). Their mission is harder than it has been in previous Zelda games, and the pressure of that task is told well through the optional cutscenes. Link controls flawlessly on the new Switch controller, flying, climbing, and fighting with ease. Don’t be scared off by the motion controls; I preferred them for aiming arrows and other tasks

Though you'll be able to find wood almost anywhere, here are some of the best spots for Wood farming. Rito StableConsidering Tears of the Kingdom is set years in the future, something you'd be missing out by the previous game is to see the evolutions that have taken place in Hyrule. Things have changed, and if you don't have the context of what it was like before, you likely won't be able to enjoy the smaller details. The Characters Have Evolved Over Time

Following the guidance of an unseen voice, Link encounters a new test: the Divine Beast Tamer's Trial. Take hold of the One-Hit Obliterator to clear out monster encampments, discover new shrines, conquer a huge dungeon and more. Overcoming all these obstacles will earn you the power to call upon the Master Cycle Zero. Travel to the Divine Beast Vah Medoh and glide over to Rito Stable. There, you'll find piles tree trunks ready for you to demolish.Link will have a new fully furnished home after spending a total of 4,400 rupees through this side quest. Adventure Log Entries The original Legend of Zelda on NES introduced the idea of an open fantasy world, but as the series progressed, it veered toward guiding players through a linear sequence of engaging puzzle and combat scenarios. The series has reexamined that formula in recent entries, but Breath of the Wild marks the most dramatic departure to date. You have every item you need to solve every puzzle before you reach the first dungeon. Swords break, and you exchange them often. You don’t have to complete the dungeons to defeat Ganon. This is not the Zelda we’re familiar with, but my hesitations about deviating from a proven formula were cast aside the moment I was dropped into the new, open Hyrule. Surviving in the world serves as an important build-up to the ultimate goal, which is defined early on: Defeat Ganon. In Breath of the Wild, Link is not trying to prevent the villain’s resurrection. Ganon is there the moment Link wakes, visible in the distance. His evil presence is clear from nearly every vantage point on the map as a disturbing, glowing evil and it has a tangible effect on the world. I felt it at every moment, whether it was by seeing Ganon in the distance or by talking to Hyrulians living under his oppression. Seeing the goal from the moment I started the game also made my final sprint to defeat Ganon hugely rewarding. When I finally decided I was ready to face Ganon, it felt like the culmination of a lifetime of preparation that ended with a hugely satisfying finale. Note: To play The Champions' Ballad content, you must first complete the four main challenges to free the four Divine Beasts. Nine hidden items for you to find

The piano-focused score can be subtle, but is absolutely stirring when it needs to be. The ambient sound effects of nature expertly sell the often lonely, natural world The same goes for some of the memorable characters from many of the best Breath of the Wild side quests. Breath of the Wild Is One of the Best Games of All Time Travel to the Lakna Rokee Shrine and cut down the surrounding the area. You'll also be able to collect Faries from the Great Fairy Fountain. How to Farm WoodThis week Sam and Ali are playing the iconic The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that originally came out in 2017 developed by Nintendo for the launch of the Nintendo Switch.

I've taken this image from this enlightening Reddit post that also includes a little more information in text form in the comments. Breath of the Wild is a feat of design and polish. Hyrule feels like a real place, and the journey Link and Zelda undertake to defeat Ganon is compellingAdditionally, help the travelling bard Kass complete an unfinished song left behind by his mentor. Better still, Kass is also inspired to write some verses of his own, revealing scenes from the Champions' and Princess Zelda's past that even Link never knew of. And what exactly could Kass's mentor's song be...? In our Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review, we said that the series has always had something of a fairytale quality to it. It speaks to our imaginations, calling us on to adventure. What a familiar feeling to look across Hyrule Field at Death Mountain, wondering what it would be like to climb it. What a profound thrill to make that journey in its entirety. It has taken 18 years, but Nintendo has done it again: this is the adventure game to beat. It’s a vast world you’ll want to explore and to help climbing and gliding makes navigation a treat. The physics reinvigorate combat and puzzles and it’s refreshingly a jank-free for a game this size. Perhaps the most important reason not to skip The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the simplest of them all. It's flat out one of the best video games of all time. Not only was it the first truly open-world Zelda game, it brought in new elements to the genre that revolutionized how we interact with open-world games in general. There's so much to explore and uncover that you'll likely never get tired of doing just that. Yet another aspect that comes with a direct sequel is that there will be a lot of crossover characters between titles. Link and Zelda will have changed over the years between games, but so will most of the surrounding characters. The story will likely still make sense without the context of what core characters like Sidon and Riju were like in Breath of the Wild, but you'll still be missing a lot of great story details.