The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

 Switch
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20981 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17,830 out of 20981
  2. Mixed: 1,176 out of 20981
  3. Negative: 1,975 out of 20981
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  1. Nairdan
    Mar 16, 2017
    10
    Freedom, the word that defines this game... You can do almost everything you want to do. This game makes you feel like a child discovering a new world. Despite some technical issues, this is the best video GAME ever made.
  2. eaboo316
    Mar 16, 2017
    7
    I have super, super mixed feelings about this game. To provide some context, I have grown up playing games from Japanese RPG series, and I only play JRPG's mostly because I know I'll enjoy them, and there's too many games in the world to try with too little time, so I limit my choices to games I know I'll love - games from the Legend of Zelda series being one of them. I am also prettyI have super, super mixed feelings about this game. To provide some context, I have grown up playing games from Japanese RPG series, and I only play JRPG's mostly because I know I'll enjoy them, and there's too many games in the world to try with too little time, so I limit my choices to games I know I'll love - games from the Legend of Zelda series being one of them. I am also pretty flexible with the games I like, the FF series has changed their gameplay style almost every game, and besides the online games, I've played and enjoyed all of them. So, I have played a mix of open-world and linear games, and tend to prefer something in the middle.

    Before I delved into BOTW, I decided to play and beat Wind Waker HD to get myself reacquainted with the Zelda series before this game, because the last time I played a Zelda game was Skyward Sword in 2011, which I loved. And I loved Wind Waker as well. I knew this game would be a bit different with an open-world concept, though I have played similar open-world ish JRPGs before, so wasn't too worried. Though, almost 20 hours put into the game, I did not feel the same level of engagement that I immediately felt with Wind Waker just a couple of weeks before, and I decided to pause playing it.

    The story is not as engaging as previous titles. While the previous games pulled me in right away, I felt like I was trying to hurriedly get through the first four shrines in the beginning of the game just so I could get to what was happening. And this is the main issue I have with this game. As someone who appreciates a good story and character development in a game, the benefit of exploring a vast, virtual world in order to do so, is not appealing. I also enjoy doing side quests in JRPG's, and try to do all of them. But the side quests in here hinder me from progressing to the main story, and reap rewards that aren't very helpful. I also tend to hoard items and weapons whenever I play, and the fact that weapons and shields have to be thrown away or broken at some time, really bothers me.

    I love the graphics and the character design, the world is quite beautiful. I liked how the runes are incorporated and can be used pretty flexibly (though would lead me to mostly try to use bombs to kill enemies because I didn't want a sword to break or arrows to run out -_-). The method of taming horses is cool too. For me, the fun kinda stops there though. I play games to destress from the difficulties of the world, and just kick back and play through a good story, and on the contrary this game stresses me out. @_@ A virtual world can be too vast for some people, perhaps.

    I think I will try to beat this game at some point, but the excitement that I usually feel for a Legend of Zelda game isn't there. I could just be becoming a dated gamer (hopefully not, in my mid 20s here), but I miss the intricate dungeons, the different tools (hookshot, boomerang, etc), and most especially the engaging story and lovable characters. I think this game is more appealing to those who play Western RPGs more, though I hope the next title in the Zelda series tries to attempt a more universal appeal and mixes both linear and open world storytelling (maybe something like Xenoblade). If not, I think I will keep to re-playing the older games, which is fine with me, and stick with new games from JRPG series that release games that creatively build on their previous games without needed to transform it completely.

    I'm glad most people are happy with this game and perhaps are even getting introduced to the Zelda series for the first time (because it's an awesome series!! Go to the LoZ concerts!!). Though for me, this is just an okay game outfitted with the Zelda name (did not mean to make that rhyme, but it came out well). There is not much really besides the names of the characters and typical Zelda items (master sword, boomerang) that make the connection with the rest of the series, and if these characteristics are swapped out, no one would know this is part of a series, and that's really disappointing to me. For now, I'll put it down and use my destressing time to play the recently new entry of another JRPG series that I am enjoying, and get back to this one later.

    Overall, if you are like me and like JRPG games that put a lot of emphasis on storytelling and character development and have fun gameplay, this may not be your cup of tea. Though if you love open world games and exploring virtual areas with little direction to go through the story your own way, and don't mind doing tasks in video games w/o incentives, then you will most likely enjoy this game.

    Whichever type of gamer you are, how well you enjoy a game is ultimately up to you, and don't let others push you down for what your opinion is, whether you love this or any game or don't (my wise words after reading forum discussions that are virtual war zones w/ words).    … Expand
  3. NicoGio
    Mar 16, 2017
    8
    An immersive game for wanderlust gamers. Though I love the game I cannot give it a perfect 10. The weapons are too fragile overall, understandable that a twig would break after a few hits but not so much with a claymore. Beyond the weapons being fragile, the story (without wishing to spoil) can feel just a little underwhelming. Otherwise the combat is passable and the characters can be endearing.
  4. ChaseInY0Face
    Mar 16, 2017
    10
    Wow, what a game. Recently I've become somewhat bored of gaming in general, and have put if off to focus on college, but when I heard a new Zelda was coming out I knew I had to play it. Playing this game reinvigorated a part of me I haven't felt in years. The world is so beautiful filled with the magic Nintendo provides in all their main titles. The story is light in some aspects, but youWow, what a game. Recently I've become somewhat bored of gaming in general, and have put if off to focus on college, but when I heard a new Zelda was coming out I knew I had to play it. Playing this game reinvigorated a part of me I haven't felt in years. The world is so beautiful filled with the magic Nintendo provides in all their main titles. The story is light in some aspects, but you really get involved with side missions and shrine quests which spreads out the length considerably. The world reminds me of a beautiful painting, and I can definitively say right now that this is one of my favorite games Ive ever played, and it is definitely my favorite Zelda game by far. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this game, it is well worth it and I guarantee you will find something you will enjoy. Have fun gamers, Im glad I reignited my passion.… Expand
  5. Atlasz
    Mar 16, 2017
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just beat the game today, i enjoyed it overall and it is an excellent game, however no game is perfect, and I was majorly disappointed with the dungeons and bosses, to me it was an extreme lack of creativity when it came to all the gannon's you fight, they pretty much were all the same just with a different weapon and were very easy, even dark beast gannon was somewhat disappointing, it looked great but only had one attack, the yugi clan basically let you win, and another thing to me that is extremely important to every zelda game, is the music, which when beating the game i had barely any songs that left a heavy footprint, which never happens when it comes to a zelda game at least for me. As a game I give it 9/10, as a zelda fanboy, i give it 8/10… Expand
  6. lefix
    Mar 15, 2017
    7
    The game has several flaws, which makes all the 10/10 reviews very questionable. The story is rather poor. The world isn't as "alive" compared to most other AAA open world games (Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Horizon) we have seen lately. The move to open world/survival/dark souls is an interesting direction, which has both it's pros and cons. There are however lot's of lovely details in this gameThe game has several flaws, which makes all the 10/10 reviews very questionable. The story is rather poor. The world isn't as "alive" compared to most other AAA open world games (Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Horizon) we have seen lately. The move to open world/survival/dark souls is an interesting direction, which has both it's pros and cons. There are however lot's of lovely details in this game and the gameplay is mostly fun.… Expand
  7. Diehard7111
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    By Far the Best Zelda Game since Ocarina of time. This Game is just so freaking beautiful and so much fun. you can go anywhere you want. Do the story in any you want. The freedom within this game is what i have been wanting for a while in a Zelda game. If this doesn't get Game of the Year i will be surprised. 10/10
  8. lococarl82
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Great game and I keep playing to see the great story line. It is a bit different than other Zeldas but I love it. Perfect change. Combat is fun and does take a a little to get use to, but when you get it, it is very rewarding.
  9. Mtrito40
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    This game is worth buying the Switch. I would have bought the switch just to play this game. It is that good. It is the best game I have played. Great music, beautiful and magical graphics, Anyone who is hating just wants to see Nintendo fail.
    This really is the best game I have ever played. The next Zelda game will be hard to top this one.
  10. NeoGamer22
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Got my Switch a week later than everyone else but am finally pretty deep into the game. First off, I love the fact that it doesn't hold your hand. LIterally, they tell you the general area of where to go and you gotta explore and find the objectives yourself. However, Nintendo pulled this off in a way that saves you from complete frustration. Also, paragliding through the world isGot my Switch a week later than everyone else but am finally pretty deep into the game. First off, I love the fact that it doesn't hold your hand. LIterally, they tell you the general area of where to go and you gotta explore and find the objectives yourself. However, Nintendo pulled this off in a way that saves you from complete frustration. Also, paragliding through the world is absolutely satisfying. One of the reasons it is unique from other open worlds where you just follow a set quest objective. The weapon durability is absolutely annoying though. Don't know why Nintendo didn't add a blacksmith of some kind.… Expand
  11. vittipaldi
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Just fantastic. Best Zelda game ever. The open space without any direction to go is one of the best ideas of Nintendo. The sensations of playing this game brought me back to 1998.
  12. heitzenberg
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    One of the better games in the series. Much better than Skyward Sword. Huge, vast open world. Bigger than anything Nintendo has done before. Excellent combat. Decent story. Ignore the trolls. They're bitter that this outscored Horizon by a lot. At least Nintendo fans aren't petty enough to troll the Horizon page.
  13. Lemonsheep5182
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    This game is one of the best Zelda titles you can get! The Wii U version is amazing too. (Most low reviews are idiots trying to low score) You should definitely try to pick up this game on either the Wii U or the Nintendo Switch. If you have a Nintendo Switch but don't have this game you are missing so much!
  14. JKHENRY
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Those guys who rate this game 0/10 are comment bots. Many of them only have 1 review related to their account. They slander this game for some vicious purpose. I don't know if they are sent by Nintendo's competitors, actually, I don't care. But this game is such a vivid template of how a fun video game should be like. It purifies us from those garbages that only try to squeeze money andThose guys who rate this game 0/10 are comment bots. Many of them only have 1 review related to their account. They slander this game for some vicious purpose. I don't know if they are sent by Nintendo's competitors, actually, I don't care. But this game is such a vivid template of how a fun video game should be like. It purifies us from those garbages that only try to squeeze money and time from players. Players should have a good sense of games so that some game companies cannot easily fool us with garbages. That's why you should try this game, it's a masterpiece, Keep playing such wonderful games, you will finally gain a good sense for games.… Expand
  15. SogekingSW
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    This is one of the best zelda games. i dont know why some people are writting bad reviews but not only in my personal opinon, this game is awesome and i think is impossible give it less than 8 or 7 if you DONT like the game and if you dont have it please dont write a review only the persons who played the game can comment when you play it you will fall in love with it.
  16. ImNotAFanboy
    Mar 15, 2017
    8
    This is to me a very good game. The game play is reminiscent of the original Legend of Zelda, and the new mechanics integrated into the game. The controls were very smooth when I was playing it, and returning features such as the stamina bar are improved. The visuals are one of the best parts of the game, and this game is more open-world than almost any other Nintendo game. There are someThis is to me a very good game. The game play is reminiscent of the original Legend of Zelda, and the new mechanics integrated into the game. The controls were very smooth when I was playing it, and returning features such as the stamina bar are improved. The visuals are one of the best parts of the game, and this game is more open-world than almost any other Nintendo game. There are some problems though, such as frame rate drops on the switch in docked mode, and the occasional small spike of lag. These problems were fixed in portable mode, but the battery life is much lower when playing BOTW in portable mode. To top it all off, the story is very intriguing, and makes you want to rediscover Link's past. If this is a sign of switch games to come, I am very hopeful for the future of the system.… Expand
  17. Frosenhorn
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    В этой игре прекрасно всё, от А до Я

    Эта игра настолько большая, что даже сложно представить, как будет выглядеть человек, который пройдёт эту игру на 100% Возможностей настолько много, что их сосчитать практически не реально. Пройдя игру один раз, и начав проходить её заново ты по любому найдёшь что-нибудь новое, именно вот такие игры заслуживает игровое сообщество. Игра, реально    В этой игре прекрасно всё, от А до Я

    Эта игра настолько большая, что даже сложно представить, как будет выглядеть человек, который пройдёт эту игру на 100%

    Возможностей настолько много, что их сосчитать практически не реально. Пройдя игру один раз, и начав проходить её заново ты по любому найдёшь что-нибудь новое, именно вот такие игры заслуживает игровое сообщество.

    Игра, реально не на шутку, заставляет заболеть мыслью купить новую консоль от Нинтендо.    … Expand
  18. KesslerCOIL
    Mar 15, 2017
    6
    I'll start off by saying I am keeping this review as honest as possible and 6/10 is NOT a "bad review", the game is good but the faults I've encountered just sorta chip away at the fun for me.

    The combat is simple, but varied and I've found myself using a large variety of weapons, however not by choice. The weapon degradation (or rather fragility) is something I cant bring myself to    I'll start off by saying I am keeping this review as honest as possible and 6/10 is NOT a "bad review", the game is good but the faults I've encountered just sorta chip away at the fun for me.

    The combat is simple, but varied and I've found myself using a large variety of weapons, however not by choice. The weapon degradation (or rather fragility) is something I cant bring myself to forgive, especially with how severe it is, the basic trash weapons I can understand breaking quickly, but if I find a weapon with solid damage that is (relatively) hard to find then it should last more than 8 swings. This constant fumble for weapons and inventory management isn't fun for me and breaks up the combat way too much, alongside forcing me to decide if an enemy is even worth breaking my weapons on.

    The visuals are beautiful, though I found my frames dipping a lot in bad weather and mountains. The art-style is minimalist, but not simple and the physics in combination is pretty damn impressive for a game on a hybrid handheld console..

    The story I feel could have been great, but I found digging for breadcrumbs rather tedious and wishing I got to see more of the other characters. Some of the characters I honestly wish I could play instead of Link, they seemed more interesting, deep and fleshed out.

    The world is expansive and deceptively large, expanding more and more as you play. The stamina meter often puts a hamper on the experience until you've invested time into increasing it's size however.
    The enemies are probably the biggest highlight of the game, they're interesting, cute and truly feel like they live in the world around you, often times they're interacting with things in a way I wouldn't expect from a nintendo game.

    Overall, the game is pretty damn good if I must say so, but the glaring things in the game like excessive weapon degradation punishing players at every turn, stamina nagging at you for having too much fun and the constant dips in framerate (yes, even when docked) made for a rather taxing experience that didn't start to feel tolerable until I was very deep into the game.

    6/10, stop putting weapon degradation in games.    … Expand
  19. Krakatoa34
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Amazing world with so many things to do I beat the game with a satisfying ending and all I can do is praise this game. With such a turn from the Zelda Universe this game deserves all the praise it is getting.
  20. Whutupribs
    Mar 15, 2017
    8
    Zelda: Breath of the Wild is... Well, it's hard to put into words. I don't need to tell you that it's a good game; the glowing reviews that it's gotten nearly across the board can speak for that. What I can tell you is that it has managed to breathe new life into a series that even I, as a life-long Zelda fan, was starting to see as stale and repetitive. It's as though Nintendo took allZelda: Breath of the Wild is... Well, it's hard to put into words. I don't need to tell you that it's a good game; the glowing reviews that it's gotten nearly across the board can speak for that. What I can tell you is that it has managed to breathe new life into a series that even I, as a life-long Zelda fan, was starting to see as stale and repetitive. It's as though Nintendo took all the best parts of previous Zelda games and combined them into one: it's got the massive world that Wind Waker had, the interesting and varied environments from Ocarina of Time, and the open-endedness of the original Legend of Zelda. The puzzles both inside and outside of the shrines are diverse, reasonably challenging, and sometimes downright tough. The open world lends itself extremely well to a Zelda game, which surprised me. I was skeptical from day one, but Nintendo definitely delivered. It's like they took the size of the world from Wind Waker and filled in all the boring sailing with things to keep your attention. Every area of the map feels interesting and alive, which is something few open world games can boast. There's plenty of weapon and armor variance, and you always feel like exploring is worth your time. It captured the feeling of adventure in a way that the series has been sorely lacking since Ocarina of Time. All I can really say without delving into all the things you've already heard from other reviews is that if you're a fan of the series, even a casual fan, you will love this game. I bought a Switch just to play it, and I don't regret it a bit.

    That being said, this isn't to suggest the game is without it's faults. There are some rather glaring issues that I had with the game, which is why I haven't given it a 10/10. First and foremost is the one thing everyone has been complaining about: the weapon durability mechanic. Now, I think a lot of people made this more of an issue than it is, because you do eventually adjust to it and learn how the game is balanced in this regard. It doesn't make the game less enjoyable so much as it was a missed opportunity to make the game even MORE enjoyable. The simple inclusion of a way to repair weapons with rupees and materials would have gone a long way towards improving this mechanic. The durability system wouldn't have suffered, mostly because you're always finding weapons with different properties. I like the idea of having to use different weapons for different scenarios, but it could have been executed much better. The armor system, while varied, is a little lacking as well. Most of the time, with the exception of a few scenarios, I found myself annoyed that I had to use inferior armor. One could make the case that this was intentional to make certain areas more challenging, but the inclusion of an enchantment system would have been really a great way to mitigate some of this annoyance. The third and final issue I have is sort of twofold: the climbing. The climbing is so incredibly tedious that it actually made me angry a few times. Granted, there are ways in-game to improve the speed and effectiveness of climbing, but that only makes it slightly more tolerable. That, coupled with the fact that rain storms make climbing almost impossible, and it can be really frustrating and slows the pace of the game a lot. Had they fixed these few things, this game would easily be a 10/10, and would likely be considered one of the top 5 Nintendo games of all time, right up there with the original Mario and Zelda games.

    I don't want these things to discourage you; this game is absolutely incredible and well worth every hour I've put into it. I'd absolutely consider it the best Zelda game since Wind Waker, and maybe even the best since Ocarina of Time, if you can manage to remove the nostalgia filter. Long story short, it may not be as absolutely perfect as many reviews are claiming, but it is an incredible game, and it's exactly the direction Nintendo should have taken, both as a company and for this franchise. Pick up a Switch and grab this game as soon as you can, you definitely won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  21. bahamud
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    El juego es genial, buenas mecánicas de juego el arte es espectacular, puedes explorar por horas el mapa sin aburrirte o retomar la historia en cualquier momento es un juego que te da libertad para hacer lo que quieras.
  22. ArchTalko
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    I've rarely played a game that treats me with the level of respect Breath of the Wild gives. I'd argue this game isn't as hard as people make it out to be; the puzzles are genuinely challenging and the combat encounters can be brutal, but the amount you struggle is directly related to the amount of time you devote to preparing for these encounters. The fact that there are, at any givenI've rarely played a game that treats me with the level of respect Breath of the Wild gives. I'd argue this game isn't as hard as people make it out to be; the puzzles are genuinely challenging and the combat encounters can be brutal, but the amount you struggle is directly related to the amount of time you devote to preparing for these encounters. The fact that there are, at any given time, a couple dozen ways to go about fighting any enemy or clearing any puzzle speaks volumes to this game's replayability and ingenuity.

    It's not a perfect game. The frame rate is horrendous in plenty of spots (at least when docked; I haven't experienced any slowdown in those same areas when playing on handheld), the voice acting is just okay at best, and more often than not bland and rushed. The ost does a wonderful job of setting this game's mood and compliments the gameplay perfectly, but leaves a lot to be desired with the crazy amounts of catchy tunes found in previous Zeldas.

    But honestly, none of these nitpicks matter. BotW is a masterpiece in engaging combat, in creating a fully-realized hyrule teeming with puzzles to uncover, and in wrapping it all around a story that had me invested from the moment Link opens his eyes. You owe it to yourself to play this game, even if you've never played another Zelda in your life. Despite the flaws, every other strength is massive enough to still warrant a 10. Play it - we all need a fish boyfriend in our lives.    … Expand
  23. JimJoe
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Okay so don't let salty PlayStation players hold you from this. This game is almost perfect, you have to work for yourself, not a hand holding game. People say it is but from start to finish, you can go ANYWHERE. This is the least boring overworld game always something to do or fight. Not to mention people say that Nintendo copied other open world games, not true plus Nintendo made openOkay so don't let salty PlayStation players hold you from this. This game is almost perfect, you have to work for yourself, not a hand holding game. People say it is but from start to finish, you can go ANYWHERE. This is the least boring overworld game always something to do or fight. Not to mention people say that Nintendo copied other open world games, not true plus Nintendo made open world games, ever heard of the original Zelda?
    This game's story is fantastic, following Link, you have to get back your memories of Zelda and the world and stop Ganon. Along with big things to do.

    Minor gliches but overall, 10/10.    … Expand
  24. DeViLzzz
    Mar 15, 2017
    7
    Here is why Zelda Breath of the Wild is not a 10/10 game -

    1. Frame rate (FPS) .... abysmal at times dipping below 30 which is totally unacceptable for this sort of game. 2. Copy and pasted towers all over the place that you need to go to. I couldn't believe Nintendo couldn't do better than that. 3. A bad camera where you have no options to change things. 4. Enemy AI at times is    Here is why Zelda Breath of the Wild is not a 10/10 game -

    1. Frame rate (FPS) .... abysmal at times dipping below 30 which is totally unacceptable for this sort of game.
    2. Copy and pasted towers all over the place that you need to go to. I couldn't believe Nintendo couldn't do better than that.
    3. A bad camera where you have no options to change things.
    4. Enemy AI at times is pathetic. Enemies staying up in towers when it is clear they are getting nowhere firing at your with arrows from there and also even when they see their foes dying they don't come to their aid.
    5. Stamina meter
    6. Weapons breaking all the time for so little use. What in the hell was Nintendumb thinking?
    7. The game on the Nintendo Switch barely looks better than the Wii U version as only a few simple lighting effects add more glare which is actually blinding at times so there may be players that don't even like the so called extra graphical feature.

    ETC. ETC.    … Expand
  25. CalebHab
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Breath of the Wild is the fullest, biggest, most interesting Zelda game to date. It has an amazing sense of scale and excitement. Its art style fits the open world perfectly, and the Zelda universe. If you haven't played it yet, it is a must own.
  26. GamerOuTLaWz
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Its been a while since Ive had this much fun in a video game. In a modern age where everything on my PS4 felt and played the same, with little to 0 interaction with the world or thought behind its gameplay mechanics, Nintendo, once again, has proven that they ARE the greatest gaming developpers. I was calling it before, and still hold on to my first statement that this game is truly the GGOAT­. 50 hrs in, still finding interactions with the world/objects/enemies that leaves me in awe and speechless, add to that the well crafted world, clever puzzles and collectibles and all the small variances in gameplay you can get in 1 single game and youve got the best gaming experience on the market right now. This game is for true gamers, not the type of sc-u-bs who will bring down a game for its resolution or graphics (pathetic truly) but for those who actually grew up playing good ol' video games for the amazing gameplay. I Know I might sound like Im repeating myself alot, but Nintendo has always been gameplay/music/immersion first, story elements second BUT without neglecting the latter. A MUST have for those who enjoy gaming as much as I do.… Expand
  27. LucvdM
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    I was going to give this game a 9/10 (as no such thing as a perfect game exists), but I went with a 10/10 to counter-balance all those kids who review-bombed this game with 0s and 1s for whatever reason.

    TW3 (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) used to be my favorite open-world game of all time, but BoTW (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild) just took that spot. Because TW3 was my favorite    I was going to give this game a 9/10 (as no such thing as a perfect game exists), but I went with a 10/10 to counter-balance all those kids who review-bombed this game with 0s and 1s for whatever reason.

    TW3 (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) used to be my favorite open-world game of all time, but BoTW (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild) just took that spot. Because TW3 was my favorite open-world game and because I know it's a widely popular game I'm going to use TW3 as a benchmark to tell you in which areas BoTW beats TW3 and in which areas it does not and why I think BoTW is the better game. Just to be direct and frank: BoTW is not going to beat TW3 in any of the follow departments: graphics/aesthetics, storytelling/writing, gameplay and replay-value. I repeat, BoTW is NOT better than TW3 in any of those things.

    The graphics of BoTW are unique but kind of bad for a 2017 game. The world doesn't feel as crisp and detailed as the world of TW3. The storytelling... what can I say? it's a Zelda game. Zelda never had amazing storytelling and this game is no exception. The story does what it has to do, and it does it right, but don't expect a deep, integrate compelling story with interesting twists and turns, because you won't find that here (or in any Zelda game for that matter). The gameplay is solid but there are a few minor things that annoyed the **** out of me. Weapons break way too quickly, the few motion-controlled puzzles are horrible (when will Nintendo ever learn, nobody likes gimmicky motion controls! not even in puzzles!) and the amazing physics engine will work against you more often than not).

    Right now it sounds like I'm roasting BoTW and think it's a horrible game. I don't. At the start of the review I already said I'd give this game a 9/10 and think it's the best open-world game, better than TW3. And now that I've got my criticism for BoTW out of the way I can explain why I think this is the better game.

    What makes this game stand out is that it's truly designed with an open-world in mind. It fully utilizes the concept and in many way redefines what an open-world game ought to be. So many games these days have an open-world. Open-world games seem to be the new flavor of the month (or decade, I guess). Every developer wants their game to have an open-world these days. Yet so few developers do the open-world concept so right!

    Many open-world games give you a vast world to explore yet they either feel repetitive or don't really reward exploration at all. Games like TW3 will lead you through the open-world in a linear fashion by constantly telling you where to go next. And when you wander off the beaten path just for the heck of it, you will often find interesting locations which you want to access, but simply can't because you have to pick up a relating quest that sends you there first. The den of the werewolf is always empty, until you pick up the quest to kill the werewolf. The entrance to that secret cave you just saw will always be closed until the main quest tells you to go there. That big griffon you saw on that mountain? You have to be level 25 first before you can beat him, no matter how good you think you are.

    This is a problem that many open-world games have, but not BoTW. When you start the game you'll be confined to a small tutorial area (which is actually a really big area, but still just 1% of the world map) where you are given a few tasks which will intuitively teach you the mechanics of the game. Even here you already have some freedom to explore and it's up to you in which order you do these tutorial tasks. Once you got your paraglider, you can leave the tutorial area in any direction you want, going wherever you want, doing whatever you want. At this point you're truly free to explore and play around in a vast open-world filled to the brim with puzzles and secrets. Sure, there are quest markers on your map, but these markers are merely there to show you some of the options you have. They show you what you CAN do, NOT what you MUST do. I understand a lot of gamers need handholding, guidance or prefer a list of task to go through, so I guess these quest markers are there for these types of gamers. But even if you'd just follow the quest markers, you'd still have about 6 options to choose from once you leave the tutorial area. One marker will lead you to directly to the final boss Ganon, one will lead you to Kakariko Village and the other 4 will lead you to the 4 main dungeons of the game, which can be completed in any order, or be skipped altogether. Which of these 6 markers you pursue first is 100% up to you. If you want to go straight for Ganon, you can, nothing is stopping you. If you do, you're going to have to fight your way through a horde of incredibly powerful guardians though, It won't be easy, but it won't be impossible either and the game won't stop you from trying.

    And THAT is why BoTW is the best open-world game to date, even better than TW3.    … Expand
  28. Criticalgaming
    Mar 15, 2017
    5
    Say what you want about it. Zelda's latest installment is nothing more than a clunky test of a player's patience. From a tedious to navigate and empty open world, to frustrating controls, and a combat system that can **** right off. Weapon durability is way over toned and does nothing for the game other than make rewards feel empty in a lot of places.

    I respect how well crafted the    Say what you want about it. Zelda's latest installment is nothing more than a clunky test of a player's patience. From a tedious to navigate and empty open world, to frustrating controls, and a combat system that can **** right off. Weapon durability is way over toned and does nothing for the game other than make rewards feel empty in a lot of places.

    I respect how well crafted the overall game is, but too many of the games systems are ****ing annoying for me to keep playing. Shame I bought a Switch for this, I was hoping that my first Zelda game would give me a better experience. Instead I was just aggravated.    … Expand
  29. visi87
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    Best game ever!!! Nintendo difference ❤️❤️❤️, all the zelda universe in a big open world , poetic. Unique..and passion for the best work nintendo ever made ...
  30. HappyHermyHype
    Mar 15, 2017
    10
    The best video game I ever played. It's one of those rare Games that you don't want to end. Even if you can walk to the final boss at any moment you don't want to. You just want to continue playing :) That says a lot.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Switch Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
97

Universal acclaim - based on 109 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 106 out of 109
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 109
  3. Negative: 0 out of 109
  1. GameGrin
    Dec 12, 2017
    100
    Where it takes mechanics from others in the industry, it improves upon them; where it introduces new ones, you slap your forehead in amazement that it hasn’t been done before. Breath of the Wild is development done right, and damn near the best game you’ll play all year.
    Read full review
  2. Wired UK
    Aug 30, 2017
    100
    Breath of the Wild is a masterpiece.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    May 19, 2017
    96
    Up there with the finest Zelda games, Breath of the Wild is bold, liberating, and utterly astonishing. [Apr 2017, p.60]
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