The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

 Switch
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9840 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7,514 out of 9840
  2. Mixed: 734 out of 9840
  3. Negative: 1,592 out of 9840
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  1. BackProblems
    May 13, 2023
    4
    If you didn't like Breath of the Wild, you won't like this. Same map, 30 fps (maximum) with the game chugging hard in sections dropping below 20 fps, more so in combat. 720p graphics, which isn't everything but when you're used to at minimum 1440p in games, this looks really mid. Still no real dungeons in the game, still the same tired story about fighting yet another Ganon, charactersIf you didn't like Breath of the Wild, you won't like this. Same map, 30 fps (maximum) with the game chugging hard in sections dropping below 20 fps, more so in combat. 720p graphics, which isn't everything but when you're used to at minimum 1440p in games, this looks really mid. Still no real dungeons in the game, still the same tired story about fighting yet another Ganon, characters voices are wonky and feel out of place in this universe. This game, after God of War Ragnarok highlights that just because something is open world, does not make it good by any metrics. If this didn't have Zelda in the title, reviewers would have given this a 7/10, and that's just because it's Nintendo.… Expand
  2. Drash-Digimon
    May 18, 2023
    4
    Easily the worst Zelda to date in terms of disrespecting the conventions and traditions that defined the series.
    The temples remain boringly simple, the story remains fragmented, and the difficulty of the puzzles is nothing like previous prequels.
    Not to mention that the performance is horrible most of the time.
  3. Hsox05
    May 13, 2023
    2
    It’s a miss to me. Its just a lazy reskin of Breath of the Wild, minus the good parts. BotW started with 4 shrines (last one snow) to get 4 spirit orbs, led by the ghost of an old hyrule king. TotK starts with 4 shrines (last one snow) to get 4 spirit orbs disguised as light spheres, led by the ghost of an old hyrule king. First power up you learn in BOTW is magnet which allows your toIt’s a miss to me. Its just a lazy reskin of Breath of the Wild, minus the good parts. BotW started with 4 shrines (last one snow) to get 4 spirit orbs, led by the ghost of an old hyrule king. TotK starts with 4 shrines (last one snow) to get 4 spirit orbs disguised as light spheres, led by the ghost of an old hyrule king. First power up you learn in BOTW is magnet which allows your to float items through the air, first power up you learn in TotK is ultra hand which is basically the same thing. Sheikah slate is the same thing as the purah pad. Skyview towers are the same thing as the Sheikah towers, but rather than figuring out how to climb them, it’s just opening a door then a long winded animation of being slingshotted up into the air and falling back into that zone of the map. The Ascend power up is annoying with having to watch a long animation and then press “escape” when it finally goes through. The time reverse power up is pretty cool, but I’d rather have stasis and the bombs from BOTW. Climbing in the rain was always a very annoying feature of BOTW but it could easily be circumvented by advancing the story and getting revali’s gale early. Looks like they’ve taken that away and your best bet is roaming around and finding fallen rocks and doing time reversal on them. Or finding shelter and passing time at a fire, which was always tedious. Or sticky frog potion. Getting a power up that made it not as hard was much more rewarding. Also a bad problem to double down on. Story is a lazy, predictable “let’s take all your powers away”. Sky world was already done in probably the worst main game in the series, skyward sword.

    I haven’t played enough to get the hang of the vehicle building yet. So I can’t judge that. The shrines and the Korok seeds were a neat, new experience in BOTW, but they’re just slightly amped up but very similar ideas in this “new” game that took 7 years and multiple delays to come out. That’s crazy they delayed it so much only for it to look and play pretty much exactly like an old wiiU game. Not to mention the frame rate peaking at 30fps and often dropping way below that into being super choppy. Not sure I’ve ever been so disappointed in a game    … Expand
  4. Nightmare_L
    May 14, 2023
    3
    A complete cash grab, feeling like a DLC pack for Breath of the Wild but sold at a premium, with worse performance than the first game. They removed the old slate powers and replaced them with a bunch of gimmicky ones that are mostly useless, except the one that allows you to glue stuff to your weapons, that one is fun.

    This is just "what if Breath of the Wild, but with the kitchen sink    A complete cash grab, feeling like a DLC pack for Breath of the Wild but sold at a premium, with worse performance than the first game. They removed the old slate powers and replaced them with a bunch of gimmicky ones that are mostly useless, except the one that allows you to glue stuff to your weapons, that one is fun.

    This is just "what if Breath of the Wild, but with the kitchen sink thrown at it". If you've played Breath of the Wild, you have already played a better, more focused version of this game.

    Also, if you played BotW on Master Mode they don't allow you to import your horses. So long Epona.    … Expand
  5. Spassbremse
    May 14, 2023
    0
    I loved Breath of the Wild. While it is a great game, it's not perfect, and Nintendo really had an opportunity to improve upon the foundation laid out by BOTW with a direct sequel...instead they chose to play it completely safe and rerelease BOTW as TOTK. I call this game "Copy/Paste - Find and Replace". Here are just a few examples:

    1. The music is almost completely copy pasted    I loved Breath of the Wild. While it is a great game, it's not perfect, and Nintendo really had an opportunity to improve upon the foundation laid out by BOTW with a direct sequel...instead they chose to play it completely safe and rerelease BOTW as TOTK. I call this game "Copy/Paste - Find and Replace". Here are just a few examples:

    1. The music is almost completely copy pasted throughout the entire game; I think I noticed 5 new themes while playing.
    2. Ascend rune is just Revali's Gale but now it goes through solid matter.
    3. The time rune no longer freezes time but moves time backwards slowly.
    4. You wake up in a shrine with zero powers.
    5. You start on the “Great” area and can’t leave until you gain your 4 base powers.
    6. Zelda is missing for some reason.
    7. Zelda's Memories are now called Dragon’s Tears.
    8. You have to complete Zonai Shrines instead of Sheikah Shrines to open up warp points.
    9. You have to find all the same armor sets.
    10. You go to each race's region to beat a themed dungeon.
    11. You have to collect stupid Korok seeds.
    12. Weapons are very very fragile (possibly more so than BOTW).
    13. You gather the four Champions to help you fight Ganon.
    14. You have to remove “Corruption” within each race’s region.
    15. You have to complete a dungeon in each race’s region.
    16. Sheikah Towers are now Skyview Towers.

    The only new gameplay aspect in this entire game is the fusing/crafting system, which is so needlessly finnicky and restrictive as to deter me wanting to use it. I hope you like building long planks as a ramp or bridge, because that’s largely all you do. Sure, you can build vehicles to your heart’s content, but you have a limited “energy” meter that drains within 5-10 seconds meaning you cannot actually USE any of those vehicles for any meaningful length of time. How do you upgrade your energy meter? Grinding. Lots of grinding. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to grind for 20-30 hours just to improve a **** battery. I want to enjoy a Zelda game, not play an MMO.

    Another thing that bothers me is that all of the shrines are stupidly easy. There wasn’t a single one that even /remotely/ used the new mechanics in interesting ways. Nintendo is so proud of its new crafting system that solving a puzzle often times, you guessed it, means you build a ramp or a bridge to cross a gap. Whoopdie damn do.

    The temples are seriously the worst in the series. They are all THE SAME TEMPLE, with variations on “how many buttons do I need to press”? You just wander around until you find a button, then you press it. Do this a few times, fight the boss. Temple over. There are no puzzles, no items, no thought. It’s just so incredibly lazy, and I don’t know why they designed them this way.

    And why is Zelda relegated to not being a character in this game? In BOTW she was very sympathetic, compelling, and well written. In this one they make her disappear and then she doesn’t have any character change or growth throughout the entire game. She’s there to be a magical mcguffin, and it’s just sad. I wanted her to play a larger role, help Link alongside him this time around, maybe even contribute to gameplay. Nope. Go sit on the sideline and do nothing, Zelda. You aren’t important.

    I criticize this game because I know Nintendo is capable of more, and quite frankly this game is just creatively empty to me. Same map, same gameplay, same exact story, same beats…and apparently it took them over 6 years to make. I keep asking myself, how is that possible? I don’t have an answer.    … Expand
  6. krutoj
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Nintendo didn't fix any of the critiques from BotW. There are still weapons that break before the enemy does. The shrines are back, while the so called "dungeons" aren't any different from the beasts in BotW. The controls got even worse. And the world, while still beautiful doesn't have anything worthwhile to do.
  7. Robert27384
    May 13, 2023
    3
    That's a lazy DLC of BOTW but not a new Zelda. There's no way it tooks 6 years of development. There's not even graphics improvments. The Switch can definitively do better.
  8. Jinoon
    May 13, 2023
    2
    A low rate for the laziness and the lack of work ! This actually perfectly reflects the Nintendo company since their device reached the success. No ambition, no investment, just remasters and remakes, with higher prices. Frankly speaking...if this game had been released 6 years ago instead of BOTW... I would have probably gave a 8on 10. But nobody should tolerate such a massive copy/paste.A low rate for the laziness and the lack of work ! This actually perfectly reflects the Nintendo company since their device reached the success. No ambition, no investment, just remasters and remakes, with higher prices. Frankly speaking...if this game had been released 6 years ago instead of BOTW... I would have probably gave a 8on 10. But nobody should tolerate such a massive copy/paste. Same world, same progression structure, same hud, same musics, same enemies, same goddamn korugus, same obnoxious breakable weapons, same disappointing dungeons... If this game wasn't called Zelda, this kind of job would have probably created a scandal ! But this gonna be goty... it's a shame !… Expand
  9. FortTrash
    May 14, 2023
    0
    720p 30fps dropping dropping down to 20fps in 2023 wtf? Dungeons disappointing af same boring world with some new locations. Feels like a big dlc
  10. Notda004
    May 14, 2023
    2
    Absolutely dissapointed, it seems Nintendo did the bare minimum to appease classic Zelda players. They would even give us legit dungeons THE BIGGEST ASK and they didn't deliver. Sure the world is good but that's because it's BoTW world completely reused and BoTW world was good to begin with. I understand it's a sequel but the reuse of assests is crazy. It's quite easy to see NintendoAbsolutely dissapointed, it seems Nintendo did the bare minimum to appease classic Zelda players. They would even give us legit dungeons THE BIGGEST ASK and they didn't deliver. Sure the world is good but that's because it's BoTW world completely reused and BoTW world was good to begin with. I understand it's a sequel but the reuse of assests is crazy. It's quite easy to see Nintendo focused heavily on appeasing to minecraft players and want people addicted to building stuff in game instead of actually playing zelda. 1. If you don't like building stuff literally every 5 minutes to get everywhere this game isn't for you. 2. If you hate being in menus more then actually playing this game isn't for you. 3. If you're a classic zelda fan that's itching for classic dungeons you can spend hours in trying to figure them out this game isn't for you (slightly larger unique looking divine beast is about all we got). 3. If you hated the weapon breaking in botw this is even worse because it both has weapon breaking which wasted enough time but now you have to waste even more time to "fuse" stuff to weapons just to be effective at battle. ---- the world is great, the exploring is great, just like botw but the rest of it I'd lacking and really does feel like DLC. BoTW was a great one time departure from the Zelda franchise but many of us are ready for a real Zelda game not a Zelda skinned open world game. Not saying the next Zelda can't be open world but it actually needs to have Zelda gameplay in it... dungeons, items you actually need to work for, meaningful weapon and gear upgrades (that don't break), a higher sense of fantasy. The Zelda formula is timeless and has proven itself over and over again, I'm not against change but I am against upended an entire franchise people love for something "new" and completely forgoing homage to the past.… Expand
  11. NakedSnakeBr
    May 15, 2023
    4
    Same map, same map, it's not a bad game, but it's a lazy game, carried by journalists, it lacks innovation
  12. Bluer
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Apart from being freely created, this game has nothing particularly eye-catching compared to Breath in the wilderness, and is not worth hyping up… Expand
  13. veilex
    May 13, 2023
    0
    If you enjoyed Breath of the Wild, this is basically that game with some tweaks to the mechanics, and an increased color-saturation, for some reason (seriously, why?). This is honestly just an expansion being billed as a full-on sequel. Its an okay game... not great... not terrible... NOT worth $70.
  14. Procrustes
    May 15, 2023
    0
    20fps check
    Horrible graphics check
    Boring puzzles all over the place check
    Overpriced check
    This game does not deserve, by any means, the 10s which, by majority, are fake, because this game has crucial issues as far as gaming is concerned.

    Overall, Genshin impact does everything better and its free.
  15. Djc1980
    May 15, 2023
    0
    Spent 7 hours looking for the 4th shrine to progress the game. Ended up looking it up on YouTube, and when I saw the solution, I parted with my copy of the game. Utterly ridiculous.

    It also felt like Minecraft in parts, where I was constantly building just to move from point A to point B. I hate Minecraft, and I despise crafting in games, so this was another tick in the wrong box. The    Spent 7 hours looking for the 4th shrine to progress the game. Ended up looking it up on YouTube, and when I saw the solution, I parted with my copy of the game. Utterly ridiculous.

    It also felt like Minecraft in parts, where I was constantly building just to move from point A to point B. I hate Minecraft, and I despise crafting in games, so this was another tick in the wrong box.

    The controls are also confusing AF, there are too many and I found myself getting completely lost with the myriad of options available and pressing the wrong button over and over again.

    A massive, massive let down. BOTW was a masterpiece, the sequel is just an utter joke.    … Expand
  16. floyd05
    May 13, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. You can't pet the dog
    You can't pet the dog
    You can't pet the dog
    You can't pet the dog
    You can't pet the dog    … Expand
  17. Aaronshiffer
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Please check the credits of each game i worked as a graphics designer for breath of the wild and 3d audio locations and designs for tears of the kingdom. The way the company handled this title is very disgraceful. There were many days at the office we were told to " re use " as much as we could from breath of the wild. a large portion of our staff was let go because there were so many rePlease check the credits of each game i worked as a graphics designer for breath of the wild and 3d audio locations and designs for tears of the kingdom. The way the company handled this title is very disgraceful. There were many days at the office we were told to " re use " as much as we could from breath of the wild. a large portion of our staff was let go because there were so many re used assets there was almost no need for a team that large to work on tears of the kingdom. I cannot put my name behind a project that was so clearly driven by greed and shame. our players deserved a much better sequel than all these re used assets shoved into the same engine we previously used for BoTW. This company has fallen a long way and as a part of the development team that actually cared and put forth a lot of effort im asking that you stay away from buying this game please. We cannot teach them that they can charge full price for a bundle of re used assets and then fire all the people that originally made these assets so they see no fruits of their labor. if they are allowed to get away with this just imagine how poorly the next game will be made and even the next. growing up on zelda i just cant help but think i helped add to this horrible mishmash of re used assets and stolen hard work.… Expand
  18. AgusP
    May 14, 2023
    0
    The most overrated game in history. It's boring, there's nothing to do in its empty world with very poorly optimized graphics.
  19. TheRatsnake
    May 14, 2023
    3
    Garbage. Over 90% of the game is recycled from BotW and that is not a good thing. Same boring, tedious, repetitive nonsense we got 6 years ago and they have the audacity to charge more. Save your time and money.
  20. Der_Barmherzige
    May 16, 2023
    3
    While it is fun, this game is a full price title for 70€ and it feels raw. It looks like it's predecessors from 2017 and feels like it just with more exploration and abilities
  21. Tabarnacul
    May 15, 2023
    0
    Big for nothing. Pretty empty. The time of play is artificially inflated by weapons system and traveling.
    Not worth the price
  22. sarisa
    May 17, 2023
    4
    Much has already been said. Nintendo believed in their own propaganda they paid for back then in 2017. And this is why this game is what it is. And now, after they bought reviews for TOTK again, Anouma promises more "open world Zelda games". And all this knowing the open world formula was already dead in 2017 and BoTW was just boring walking simulator.

    Whether you call BOTW or TOTK    Much has already been said. Nintendo believed in their own propaganda they paid for back then in 2017. And this is why this game is what it is. And now, after they bought reviews for TOTK again, Anouma promises more "open world Zelda games". And all this knowing the open world formula was already dead in 2017 and BoTW was just boring walking simulator.

    Whether you call BOTW or TOTK spinnofs, or DLC, fact is that we still don't have new Zelda since 2012. Therefore let's hope some indie studio will eventually fill this void.
    After so many years and seeing what they're doing, there is no point waiting for Nintendo. They clearly became clowns. Just let them live their Clown World.    … Expand
  23. PlayHard
    May 13, 2023
    0
    Zelda 720p 20fps in 2023 is something you can't accept. Switch's technical issues limit the game's potential.
    Zelda is not an INDIE! Zelda is AAA and It should run at 1080p~1440p~4K 60fps. NOT 720p 20fps.
  24. ChrisJ8
    May 17, 2023
    4
    You wake up after a grave injury, and are given access to a futuristic tool. In order to unlock the powers of the tool, you must travel around a tutorial area (that you can't leave) and complete shrines. You are guided by the ghost of a regal figure of the past who had direct contact with the main villain. Before you can get what you need, you have to find a shrine on a cold mountain.. andYou wake up after a grave injury, and are given access to a futuristic tool. In order to unlock the powers of the tool, you must travel around a tutorial area (that you can't leave) and complete shrines. You are guided by the ghost of a regal figure of the past who had direct contact with the main villain. Before you can get what you need, you have to find a shrine on a cold mountain.. and in order to do so you must find cold resistant materials in order to survive.

    So.. am I reviewing Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom? You’ll never know.. because the first few hours of TotK gameplay are LAZILY identical.

    Korok seeds, shrines, towers for visibility? There's zero added structure/innovation to the game's functionality. Everyone is fawning over a reskin with some new tools/powers that are even less 'Zelda' than they were in BotW.

    Oh, and the framerate is absolutely deplorable.    … Expand
  25. FeiAshtear
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Awful game. Way too long. I wanted zelda not mincraft. Overpriced overhyped overrated.… Expand
  26. truthbetold1981
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Overrated Sequel. It's just BOTW with some minor additions. And breakable weapons still a thing in this gameRecycled Content: This game took 3 times more development time than Majora's Mask compared to Ocarina in its time, and even so, everything that has been superficial Hyrule is too blatantly recycled, while in Majora's the entire Termina region was newNot a Zelda game anymore but aOverrated Sequel. It's just BOTW with some minor additions. And breakable weapons still a thing in this gameRecycled Content: This game took 3 times more development time than Majora's Mask compared to Ocarina in its time, and even so, everything that has been superficial Hyrule is too blatantly recycled, while in Majora's the entire Termina region was newNot a Zelda game anymore but a sandbox game. Never in a million years would I imagine a zelda game where I rotate objects and stick them together like minecraft and its even worse controlling it with a controller… Expand
  27. affus
    May 14, 2023
    2
    I'd like to discuss some important points about Tears of the Kingdom that I think the reviews were lacking to clearly explain, and it is necessary to clarify the flaws in advanced to set up players expectations.

    Float islands: while the trailers and the marketing massively showed the air lands, it is just the tutorial of the game and you are gonna finish it in 2 hours. There are some    I'd like to discuss some important points about Tears of the Kingdom that I think the reviews were lacking to clearly explain, and it is necessary to clarify the flaws in advanced to set up players expectations.

    Float islands: while the trailers and the marketing massively showed the air lands, it is just the tutorial of the game and you are gonna finish it in 2 hours. There are some small floating island through the game, but they are not so big or interesting.

    Map: the map of the game where you are gonna play 80 to 90% of the game is exactly the same. You are gonna spending uncountable hours looking for new korok seeds and new shrines at random places. I do feel a little disappointed here, cause I was expecting more of the floating islands or some significantly change in the original map. But not, you are gonna play the same game twice, but with a new story. There are a new place that I will not mention here (to let people discover while playing), but it unfortunately is not so interesting.

    Story: the story is brand new and captivating. Every location shows the passage of time and people remember you when you approach. You will most of the time, follow the story buy a way like the memories in Breath of the Wild, finding places and seeing a scene.

    New powers: here is where I think Nintendo spent most of the time developing the game. The new powers, in special the Ultra Hand, let players use the game as an amazing sandbox. You can craft unimaginable things and solve problems in creative ways.

    Overall, I think this game would be great if Breath of the Wild didn't exist, but it does. Tears of the Kingdom felt to me like a copycat trying to monetize through the success of its predecessor. This game is worthy playing if you give some years between Breath and it, ir order to forget most of the map. I can not imagine other franchise to imitate so hard its predecessor, using the same map, and critically being so acclaimed by media. Sometime I think reviewers are afraid of Nintendo stopping sending game to them if they give bad reviews.    … Expand
  28. Ghostagent
    May 15, 2023
    0
    Really disappointed with this game. It has worse graphics and performs more poorly than botw. They've added a building mechanic to the game which was interesting at first but then felt like a gimmick.

    Weapon durability remains, the world has more verticality but feels too familiar and boring. Looking forward to the next game, hopefully nintendo doesnt make another zelda game that feels    Really disappointed with this game. It has worse graphics and performs more poorly than botw. They've added a building mechanic to the game which was interesting at first but then felt like a gimmick.

    Weapon durability remains, the world has more verticality but feels too familiar and boring.

    Looking forward to the next game, hopefully nintendo doesnt make another zelda game that feels like a $70 sandbox dlc demo and returns the series to a more traditional title.    … Expand
  29. Garchomp102
    May 13, 2023
    4
    There are some issues with the core system of the game, the Ultra Hand. When exercising the Ultra Hand, the frame rate can become unstable and I feel stressed. It's annoying just replacing what was done in the previous work with the element of crafting.
  30. Buzzdovan
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This game is not good , it's an copy paste game , it's an overrated game , and never deserve game of the year, the map is empty and genshin impact wannabe.
    Not a Zelda game anymore but a sandbox game.
  31. anubisttk
    May 13, 2023
    8
    6 years to receive recycled content, part in the sky is interesting, when you go to land the game is lost apart from the story which is weak
  32. Reevesfron
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Totally unfair Had my review taken down 5 times
    You just can't criticise Nintendo
    1 Reevesfron May 14, 2023 *3rd time posting, keep getting deleted Nintendo was once the most powerful console in the market back in the N64 days when Ocarina of Time blew everything out the water and was like nothing seen before. The playstation 1 was actually the cheap alternative. Since then the benefit    Totally unfair Had my review taken down 5 times
    You just can't criticise Nintendo

    1
    Reevesfron
    May 14, 2023
    *3rd time posting, keep getting deleted

    Nintendo was once the most powerful console in the market back in the N64 days when Ocarina of Time blew everything out the water and was like nothing seen before.
    The playstation 1 was actually the cheap alternative.

    Since then the benefit of the doubt has been given to Nintendo for the past 20 years for failing to produce current gen quality gaming while keeping current gen quality price tags

    But now that they've moved into movie making and people are able to watch Super Mario in 4k UHD breaking box office records and making a massive profit for the company it begs the question why they don't bother giving their consoles and games the same treatment.

    The excuse used to be well they took risks with GameCube and don't have the means and we need to stay loyal
    Then with the Wii it was well they're trying something different, trying to bring it back to its roots.

    And this is Nintendo's strategy for exploiting hungry fans and giving them lacklustre releases out of beloved IPs, by appearing to be the constant underdog that needs defending when actually they're the bullies of the industry raking in a lot of profit not going towards game making.
    (See Reggie threatening leakers with quotes from 'Taken' movie, reviewers being blacklisted etc)

    So here we are three decades later with a game that is basically a Dlc of the previous, with next to no story, an empty hollow campaign that reads more like a Zelda mod for Minecraft than anything

    At 900p, 30fps, on a 10 year out of date engine with GameCube graphics that if you chose to can be completed in an hour sold for $70.

    Imagine if Ocarina of Time was released with Atari graphics, SNES gameplay and instead of needing to grow up, or see hyrule descend into chaos or complete the 8 temples to get to Ganon at any point you could just walk to hyrule castle and have the credits roll, do some building to pass the time in between.

    Would it have won awards and been regarded as a masterpiece?

    No

    And if this game at 30fps 900p GameCube graphics, 10 year old engine, can be completed in an hour with only really 5 real temples to do was on the Xbox say modded to be a Halo game Would critics call it Game of the year?

    And maybe if the mess that is Redfall had been modded to look like Mario and sold on Nintendo it would be hailed as a masterpiece


    Nintendo has gotten off easy for far too long, been half assed and lazy relying solely on fans loyalty and critics' not wanting to upset them for far too long.

    The franchise died with Twilight Princess
    They just decided after skyward sword to wait it out, and rebrand it to a new generation of zoomers who don't care for story, don't care about the campaign, don't care about a chain of temples and things you need to do to be able to get to the end, who don't care about three decades of video game history and its legacy
    They just want to run around making giant wooden statues with p***** and live stream their excitement pretending to be diehard fans

    While the OG ones are shoved under a bus.

    This is the Dragonball Super of video games.

    The prime period has long gone, and the new fans despise it/can't play it

    And what we have left is barely recognisable, nonsensical, pointless, overly complicated, strung out mess, with barely any plot that's the IP in name only.

    And the funniest thing? When Nintendo decides to make a movie of it, it's going to be in 4k UHD and bring back all the original references like the Mario one. To then return home to another cheap Dlc mobile port game.    … Expand
  33. whoopsietops
    May 17, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Why is Zelda such a poorly written character here? Not only is this game not a huge extension of the systems in the first but its writing just cannot stand on its feet… Expand
  34. honestreviewsss
    May 15, 2023
    2
    Another boring Assassins Creed clone. These types of games were already outdated 3 years ago. Thankfully it wont win GOTY because even Zelda fans are saying, that its not THAT good. Also there have already been better games in 2023.
  35. r3dDope
    May 14, 2023
    0
    30 fps is atrocious and sometimes dips below that... Nintendo's games are being held back by their hardware.
  36. ktjayhawk77
    May 15, 2023
    0
    This is just a clone of BOTW with some building mechanics. I already didn’t care for BOTW, and this is way worse. If Nintendo is going to continue to make Zelda games, please please go back to their old formula pre-BOTW, without overly big open worlds with boring objectives, actual fun dungeons, and permanent items that don’t break. In my opinion Skyward Sword is the last good Zelda game,This is just a clone of BOTW with some building mechanics. I already didn’t care for BOTW, and this is way worse. If Nintendo is going to continue to make Zelda games, please please go back to their old formula pre-BOTW, without overly big open worlds with boring objectives, actual fun dungeons, and permanent items that don’t break. In my opinion Skyward Sword is the last good Zelda game, and it just seems like there was a new fan base generated with BOTW, and this fan base never even played many of the older, classic, GOOD Zelda games. They just like big and empty open words with boring objectives. This and BOTW are all about quantity over quality. IMO Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess were not only the best Zelda games, but my favorite games overall. I hate this new direction that Nintendo is going with Zelda. If I could give this game a negative score I would, to offset all these crazy, unnecessary perfect scores. This game is FAR from perfect, or even good. This is now the most overrated video game of all time. Nintendo, please make Zelda great again if this is not their last entry. I actually give this a negative 10 out of 10. You want a good Zelda game go and play Twilight Princess, THAT is a masterpiece, not this garbage.… Expand
  37. OliRock92
    May 17, 2023
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 1st thing 1st, I'm about 25 to 30 hours in and have only completed ONE of the "dungeons" but from the reviews I have read, they all have the same structure anyways so, here I go.

    The very begining of the game is already from the start, nothing like what we were shown in trailers. It feels very rushed. Then, you wake up in basically what it the Great Plateau except, in the Sky. I do mean it basically is the Great Plateau, even it's shape and structure is similar. They make you do 4 shrines (yes, the god-awful shrines are back) to get your powers then you go to the surface, dropping near a new village, which I thought at 1st was interesting to see an evolution here since people are gathering to rebuild Hyrule. Here, you get the paraglider and then proceed to a Skyview Tower, which is just a goofy ass Sheikah Tower (yes, Ubisoft's tower climbing to uncover the map is back as well...yaaaay     … Expand
  38. Lomp
    May 18, 2023
    3
    Breath of the wild was alright but had a lot of potential, I was hoping that tears of the kingdom would realise that potential but unfortunately the devs were contempt in keeping a lot of stuff the same. The majority of the map is just a reshuffled map of hyrule from BOTW. Korock seeds and shrines are the main gameplay loop in the open world AGAIN. Finding towers to update the map, storyBreath of the wild was alright but had a lot of potential, I was hoping that tears of the kingdom would realise that potential but unfortunately the devs were contempt in keeping a lot of stuff the same. The majority of the map is just a reshuffled map of hyrule from BOTW. Korock seeds and shrines are the main gameplay loop in the open world AGAIN. Finding towers to update the map, story told in pieces and just generally messing about in a massive soulless open world was all present in BOTW. The difference is at least it was initially fresh and exciting in BOTW as this was the first time for us players, and even that became repetitive and tedious as the game played out. Now we have a huge DLC expansion that asks us to do that all over again in a map mostly the same as BOTW. There is no more excitement of discovery when you realise that most of what you find in these massive maps is the same challenges recycled agin and again: korock wants to get to a friend, guy needs you to hold up sign, shrine in the distant which will reward you maybe a weapon and orb, towers in distant for map uncovering and so on. I’m addition to stagnation it also comes with its own issues. Performance issues like this is unacceptable for a game charging a next gen price. The new ultra hand ability while cool in theory is super finicky and frustrating to control. The camera is annoying especially when you activate ascend and it snaps upwards all of a sudden disorientating the player, they should have a camera zoom out like in xenoblade. Physics are annoying especially when trying to craft something with ultra hand. The way I see this game is a very messy game glued together unstably like the many failed contraptions I created. I could go on but the bottom line is that Zelda has officially lost its heart as this is most likely the desired direction they will take for the foreseeable future. What happened to bright vibrant locations like in wind water and skyward sword. What happened to awesome intricate dungeons like in ocarina of time and twilight princess. Instead we have a massive soulless open world with boring objectives.… Expand
  39. ReWorld-D
    May 18, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's not just another Zelda game, it's as if Minecraft and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts had a child. But none of Zelda's identity is there.
    And for a fan of the classic formula like me, this is a very big disappointment.
    The exploration of Hyrule is very empty as everything is full of kolog seeds and inconsequential missions, and the temples as well as the final boss aren't very epic or appealing.    … Expand
  40. adudebeingadude
    May 15, 2023
    1
    Having just played the tutorial I can safely say I probably won't replay it. the whole thing felt long and drawn out, with a nice sprinkle of meh. One of my least favorite things in gaming is being forced to restart a game or redo a part of a game, because my progress was lost, and tears of the kingdom felt like paying 70 dollars for having that feeling permanently.

    overall I think it's    Having just played the tutorial I can safely say I probably won't replay it. the whole thing felt long and drawn out, with a nice sprinkle of meh. One of my least favorite things in gaming is being forced to restart a game or redo a part of a game, because my progress was lost, and tears of the kingdom felt like paying 70 dollars for having that feeling permanently.

    overall I think it's mid, definitely not the worst game I've played lately, but not the greatest either.

    everytime I turn this game on it manages to piss me off more, its a DLC priced at 70 bucks.    … Expand
  41. Falksi
    May 15, 2023
    4
    Afraid that only 15 hours in and I'm already getting very bored with it. I wasn't a fan of BotW and this really is just a big DLC for that game with a few nobs on. The dungeons here are again very lacking and combat is pointless most of the time anyway. If you have good weapons you're better off hoarding them and running away unless you absolutely have to fight. The building mechanicsAfraid that only 15 hours in and I'm already getting very bored with it. I wasn't a fan of BotW and this really is just a big DLC for that game with a few nobs on. The dungeons here are again very lacking and combat is pointless most of the time anyway. If you have good weapons you're better off hoarding them and running away unless you absolutely have to fight. The building mechanics sucks, and stuff which you build despawns if you get too far away from it. And the story is just bad, and very minimalistic.

    Honestly, if anything I'd class TotK as the embodiment of bad modern gaming. It's literally just a bad open world game, and if it didn't have the LoZ brand name attached it would be completely dismissed as trash by a lot of people. How this scored 10/10 with most mainstream critics is frightening.    … Expand
  42. Duagt
    May 18, 2023
    1
    Very boring game. They have discovered the physical engine and that they could make construction, and they made everything revolve around it, its not an adventure game its a construction game, very low ergonomy, trying 10time to make a vehicle to go on top of water and get on it ot amusing at all, very boring.
  43. Dafuzz
    May 15, 2023
    1
    Terrible game. It is literally Breath of the Wild version 1.5, but with a few new cutscenes, a lamer story and magic to glue items together. This is not Zelda anymore, this is Zeldacraft. It doesn't even have any real dungeons, which were a mainstake of the series since day one.
  44. B-Cube
    May 18, 2023
    0
    Largely the same as breath of the wild. Some new features and areas but not enough to warrant $70. Tears of the Kingdom is to BOTW as Miles Morales is to ps4 spiderman. A little big for a dlc, but not enough new to warrant a full priced game. Only rating it a zero to counteract the Nintendo fanboys who are giving it a 10 despite it being mostly the same thing and having next gen pricingLargely the same as breath of the wild. Some new features and areas but not enough to warrant $70. Tears of the Kingdom is to BOTW as Miles Morales is to ps4 spiderman. A little big for a dlc, but not enough new to warrant a full priced game. Only rating it a zero to counteract the Nintendo fanboys who are giving it a 10 despite it being mostly the same thing and having next gen pricing for 20fps 720p… Expand
  45. DistantKingdom
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This game is massive and huge in a bad way, if you played the first game, the Hyrule map is extremely repetitive, the floating islands are very small except for the tutorial island and the underground is a dark place with not much to do.
    Graphically it 's a very poor game where many hours are wasted doing inconsequential quests and getting Kolog seeds.
  46. Leon_Azure
    May 17, 2023
    0
    The least Zelda-like game in the entire franchise by far, full of building mechanics that complicate basic actions that could be accomplished simply by walking or climbing in the previous game.
    Except for the underground, which is a boring and dark area, and the sky, which is quite small y wasted, Hyrule feels like a completely lazily recycled map.
    Things like Kolog seeds have returned    The least Zelda-like game in the entire franchise by far, full of building mechanics that complicate basic actions that could be accomplished simply by walking or climbing in the previous game.
    Except for the underground, which is a boring and dark area, and the sky, which is quite small y wasted, Hyrule feels like a completely lazily recycled map.

    Things like Kolog seeds have returned just as tedious as the previous game (even more) and for some reason all the Sheikah technology has magically disappeared.    … Expand
  47. yuebanchuxi
    May 14, 2023
    0
    i used to thought it's an excellent game. But it really let me down because of its awful story. No more than 0 score
  48. Rebtain
    May 21, 2023
    5
    Más de lo mismo respecto a su precuela, y su sistema de construcción no es algo que no se haya visto antes en otros mundos abiertos
    El asunto de que puedas hacer mil virguerías con los poderes de la ultra mano caen en saco roto cuando muchas de las cosas se pueden lograr con los mecanismos más simples y anodinos, o simplemente caminando, peleando y usando la paravela, siendo útiles solo    Más de lo mismo respecto a su precuela, y su sistema de construcción no es algo que no se haya visto antes en otros mundos abiertos
    El asunto de que puedas hacer mil virguerías con los poderes de la ultra mano caen en saco roto cuando muchas de las cosas se pueden lograr con los mecanismos más simples y anodinos, o simplemente caminando, peleando y usando la paravela, siendo útiles solo en los santuarios donde te fuerzan a ser creativo, los cuales son muy pocos.
    Ya si hablamos desde el punto de vista narratológico, BotW era más sólido y menos discordante, aquí el argumento se siente demasiado vacío.    … Expand
  49. Scila4
    May 14, 2023
    6
    Muy repetitivo y parecido al primero, recicla demasiadas cosas para mi gusto
  50. contralaelite
    May 13, 2023
    7
    El Juego cuenta con buenas mecánicas de exploración, buena jugabilidad, pero en el apartado de rendimiento deja mucho que desear, 900p dinámicos no son justos en pleno 2023, que los FPS lleguen a caer hasta los 20 empeora las cosas, que hasta en modo portátil los 720p no sean estables es incómodo, entre otras cosas más.
  51. KarimTheTraitor
    May 16, 2023
    0
    An uninspired Zelda with zero evolution compared to BotW.
    The construction mechanic isn't as deep as people say and all it does is complicate things that were simpler before with the Sheika tablet abilities.
    I thought the plot would be deeper and more epic, but it's just as bland.
  52. JDK-the-L0lic0n
    May 14, 2023
    0
    One of the most disappointing sequels I've played, the overall performance is very poor compared to even other Switch games
    And the characters like their dialogues were very disappointing.
  53. celderon
    May 16, 2023
    0
    If this became Goty we are doomed... This game is an insult for all classic Zelda fans. I played Zelda since 1988 and I hoped Breath of the Wild was only a bad mistake by Nintendo, returning afterwarts to the old formula but they did it again. Dull empty open world with horrible build mechanics, if I want a building game, I play Minecraft. I want a real Zelda game without building,If this became Goty we are doomed... This game is an insult for all classic Zelda fans. I played Zelda since 1988 and I hoped Breath of the Wild was only a bad mistake by Nintendo, returning afterwarts to the old formula but they did it again. Dull empty open world with horrible build mechanics, if I want a building game, I play Minecraft. I want a real Zelda game without building, climbing, weapons which fall apart, endurance **** and more. What about great classic dungeons, orchestral music, special Items, a master sword which honors its name and a great story, this game lacks everything. Its Zelda dumped down to nothig...its a bad joke a walking, building simulator...I hate this giant pile of ****… Expand
  54. ioio645
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game requires too many decryption links and is boring. The game graphics are crude, and the soundtrack and voice acting are poor. The worst thing is that the game's optimization problem almost makes the game unable to run smoothly… Expand
  55. NotWorthIT
    May 15, 2023
    1
    Just wanted to let everyone know that this game is not very good. Open world is bland and boring, music is meh at best, characters are very childish. I regret buying it. If you really wanna try it, go ahead, but be warned, it's extremely boring and empty open world.
  56. mrgamer2023
    May 15, 2023
    3
    Very boring game, don't be fooled by those fake 10/10 reviews. Not worth it.......
  57. Manuel_ko
    May 14, 2023
    6
    No le puedo dar más de un 6 a un DLC de un juego hecho en 2017. 30fps es imperdonable en 2023, los controles son un desastre y gráficamente es el mismo Zelda breath of the wild.
  58. edgarnier101193
    May 13, 2023
    4
    Common Nintendo, I understand that it comes the time when a game series runs out of ideas (gears of war), but why did you sold this copy and paste game for 70 dollars?

    Why not just close the game series for good? You obviously have no more good writers or directors. The voice acting is horrible, the music is not memorable at all. The cons are already mentioned, so I wont talk bad about    Common Nintendo, I understand that it comes the time when a game series runs out of ideas (gears of war), but why did you sold this copy and paste game for 70 dollars?

    Why not just close the game series for good? You obviously have no more good writers or directors. The voice acting is horrible, the music is not memorable at all. The cons are already mentioned, so I wont talk bad about it. If you liked botw, totk will be good. Else it wont.    … Expand
  59. strandbak
    May 15, 2023
    4
    I've been a Zelda fan since the original and have played (almost) every title in this series. That being said, I've been playing for hours and have yet to have more than a few minutes' worth of actual fun. EVERYTHING is a chore. The map they start you on is a nightmare to traverse. Weapon durability is atrocious and the button map on the switch is the worst I've ever seen. It's like theyI've been a Zelda fan since the original and have played (almost) every title in this series. That being said, I've been playing for hours and have yet to have more than a few minutes' worth of actual fun. EVERYTHING is a chore. The map they start you on is a nightmare to traverse. Weapon durability is atrocious and the button map on the switch is the worst I've ever seen. It's like they deliberately tried to do the opposite of what makes sense.

    I have spent the last 2+ hours trying to find my way to the temple after unlocking the first 3 shrines. How is that supposed to be enjoyable? Spending hours literally looking for a proper path to a destination? Overall, it's a serious step back from the last one and definitely not worth $70. Zelda deserves so much more than whatever this is.    … Expand
  60. Fevix
    May 19, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Queen Gibdo absolutely feels like nobody playtested this boss. I went in with ~30 arrows, thinking I'd be picking a bunch up during the fight, or that Riju would resupply me as the fight went on, but.... no. I ran out of arrows before even passing the 3/4 mark, and then I was stuck running around, unable to do anything. Now I have to go farm rupees, buy all the arrows from all across hyrule, then come back and MAYBE pass the halfway point before having to do it all again.

    Speaking of rupees, there is virtually no passive gain like in other zelda games. Much like BOTW, enemies drop no rupees. You can't get rupees by cutting grass, either. The only way to get rupees is by doing quests and various activities, or by collecting valuable items to sell. In other words, you have to INTEND to get rupees, you have to take a break from the rest of the game to get rupees. A quest might give you about 100 rupees, which can buy 25 arrows, but most shops only stock 15, meaning you're going to go to two different shops to get your arrows. And for the amount of arrows that you have to stockpile before attempting Queen Gibdo? Prepare to retrace your steps through every single town you've visited so far to clean out their whole stock, while also taking breaks from that to farm for stuff to sell.

    This game only built on the story of the previous, and none of the mechanics. Cooking is still the same slog of "Open inventory. Select ingredients. Exit inventory. Drop ingredients in pot. Watch 5 second cutscene. Get result. Open inventory. Select ingre-" You get the idea. Yeah the new powers are interesting, but probably like 90% of the map can be explored just by using Ultra Hand to build a long enough bridge out of whatever random stuff you find.

    They kept virtually the same exact inventory/loot system, but now weapons degrade faster because they've all been 'decayed' by the Demon King. The sky islands and the Depths are probably the most interesting parts of the game, because they're the only truly NEW parts. I have so much more fun up/down there than I've ever had on the surface, which is a shame because the surface is where 99% of the story takes place.

    Also, the final boss is always available to just... go fight. You just need to jump down into the hole under Hyrule Castle, which you can do as soon as you first make it to the surface, and there he is, welcome to the end of the game! Speedrunners are going to love this, they don't even have to trick their way through a maze of a castle, Nintendo literally gave them a hole straight to the end boss.    … Expand
  61. r3l1chunt3r
    May 14, 2023
    1
    This game is really just Zelda in name only. This is a gimmick and not a game. The performance is unacceptable, the game is a stutter fest in the times when you least want it to stutter. The visuals are poor and really just highlights how outdated the Switch hardware is. Come on Nintendo, you need to release your next gen console now. The gimmick of building things and attaching things toThis game is really just Zelda in name only. This is a gimmick and not a game. The performance is unacceptable, the game is a stutter fest in the times when you least want it to stutter. The visuals are poor and really just highlights how outdated the Switch hardware is. Come on Nintendo, you need to release your next gen console now. The gimmick of building things and attaching things to other things are impressive that Nintendo pulled it off, but it should have been a feature and not basically the whole game. It is fun for like 30 minutes then just becomes boring then you ride it out cause you want to believe that it gets better but it truly just never does. This would have been better as a $20 DLC to BoTW not a full prices $70 game in 2023. Let me also just say that the start is soooo slow to begin and they stop you every 10 seconds is sooo jarring. Stamina and weapon damage are also just the worst, Botw had this too but people complained about this last time as well and are constantly listed as the only negatives to the game and yet the sequel doubles down on it and even adds the Zonai energy (which is just stamina for devices)..... So fun. This game is definitely not recommended unless the switch is your only device and you just don't have anything else to play.… Expand
  62. marcomad69
    May 14, 2023
    1
    Graphic is appaling, the styleo looks poor and too childish. I honestly don't get all this hype
  63. Jam30
    May 14, 2023
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Building cool stuff is about the only meaningful change between this game and last.… Expand
  64. TheHonestMan
    May 13, 2023
    4
    This a game which actively punishes you for trying to have fun with it's cumbersome ultra hand controls, excessive menuing and the same weapon durability from BOTW. Even if you make something cool with the new ultra hand it will last a few seconds at most. Good for viral clips, but not an actual game.
    Overall, a VERY samey sequel that does nothing exciting nor addresses a single problem    This a game which actively punishes you for trying to have fun with it's cumbersome ultra hand controls, excessive menuing and the same weapon durability from BOTW. Even if you make something cool with the new ultra hand it will last a few seconds at most. Good for viral clips, but not an actual game.
    Overall, a VERY samey sequel that does nothing exciting nor addresses a single problem from the last one. Even the story is nothing special. It's laughable that this took 6 years.
    Aonuma probably made it to please his son who likes minecraft cause it sure isn't a Zelda experience.    … Expand
  65. Garyreyes3
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El problema es que no hay una verdadera innovación grafica, ni en el gameplay, no vale la pena gastar 70 dolares.… Expand
  66. alRR
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Definitely the creatives for this game are ahead of their time, and on such a limited power system!!! This game keeps me hooked as there is always just one more discovery around the corner to keep me playing one more hour. This is engaging gameplay as well as the new construction physics, and solve however you choose puzzles.
  67. Captain_N
    May 14, 2023
    0
    The combat system in this game is probably THE absolute worst I have ever had to deal with in any game, let alone a Zelda one. The combat feels extremely mean spirited. Most of the time the dodge window don't feel intitive or responsive and even when you are in the early part of the game, enemies often seem to deal ridiculous amounts of damage that can kill you in one strike. Unlike theThe combat system in this game is probably THE absolute worst I have ever had to deal with in any game, let alone a Zelda one. The combat feels extremely mean spirited. Most of the time the dodge window don't feel intitive or responsive and even when you are in the early part of the game, enemies often seem to deal ridiculous amounts of damage that can kill you in one strike. Unlike the earlier games where combat is much more balanced and fair and rewarding. In this game it's something I dread having to do every time it comes up. I am just having and absolutely miserable time with it.… Expand
  68. carlanstark
    May 13, 2023
    1
    Unthinkable that Zelda is stagnant with nowadays advancement in 4K and raytracing… incredible game but we can’t congratulate plain laziness from devs.
  69. Tysw2
    May 17, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An overrated sequel to an overrated game.

    For Fallout, Skyrim, and Ubisoft fans this The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will delight players. For fans of Zelda, Dark Souls, Castle Vania, Metroid, the story is different for some.

    To begin this game takes place on the same map assets wise as the previous game. It uses the same terrain just with some slight differences such as sky islands, and the depths. The overworld is mostly the same, the shrines are in similar, if not the same spots as the original game, and there is a new addition "Dungeons/Temples?".
    For those criticizing the trailers I'm sad to say you were mostly right that this game is pretty much a DLC in sheep's clothing.
    The game again ditches the traditional Zelda formula and lacks features from previous games and adds new mechanics that flat out break the puzzle solving aspects of Zelda as a whole. With the new building mechanic you are able to pass complex puzzles and problems with ease to the point where it feels like you are cheating and breaking the game. For me this breaks the immersion of puzzle solving and completely thwarts meaningful reward to gameplay which seems to be a common theme in this game.
    The dungeons are short, lack luster, and feel disjointed. They do not convey the feeling that someone spent months carefully crafting complex puzzles that require critical thinking, but rather a short 15 minute trial of "put square box in square hole". As you progress through these dungeons there is no progression. It is single puzzle, single boss, receive your upgrade and leave.
    The game is somewhat broken. The performance issues are glaring including crashes, low framerate, long loading screens, corrupted saves, and lost progress. Some small complaints that break the game too would be after acquiring the sages into your arsenal they constantly follow you with buggy AI at all times. You cannot put them away by force and as a result an accidental tap of the a button could break you from sneaking up on an enemy, to alerting the horde.
    Koraks are back, and more annoying than ever now that you have to complete long drawn out carry me to my objective missions that are just a plain waste of time.
    All weapons still break and further complicate the crafting mechanic so weapons that you grind to get feel less satisfying to have knowing that they are forfeit unlike any previous Zelda game.
    As for the story it came off as melodramatic and came off to me like the cutscenes from Metroid Other M or a Scene from Ninja Gaiden, honestly not really worth talking about. Ganon is the bad guy because he's a jerk and a meanie. Zelda time travels to stop him, and works with the previous rulers of Hyrule to do so. Doesn't get more complex than that.

    Overall this game feels like only a minor upgrade from Breath of the Wild, and the argument of DLC seems to reign true here. In the future I would like to have non-breakable weapons and have abilities rewarded to you as you play, rather than having them handed out to you right from the beginning without earning them. Gaining new abilities in games should reward the player by adding complexity to gameplay rather than aiding the playing by making the game less difficult.

    Another flop Zelda game for me, I rate 4/10 for still being a fun game minus the Zelda title.    … Expand
  70. Steff86
    May 14, 2023
    4
    This game has been mediocre so far! The open world is empty and lifeless and the side quests have been really dull. Navigated the open world is more of a chore than it is fun it's just been lackluster in every aspect
  71. Nargacuga
    May 18, 2023
    0
    One of the worst Zelda games i ever played... it looks pretty, they did the music better than BotW, they added new enemies to counter the ''not enough enemies problem'' and some creative ideas.

    but it runs poorly even if caped to what feels like 30 FPS, promises ultimate freedom but don't even has a standard like customizing the controls to your liking, overusing the same scheme over    One of the worst Zelda games i ever played... it looks pretty, they did the music better than BotW, they added new enemies to counter the ''not enough enemies problem'' and some creative ideas.

    but it runs poorly even if caped to what feels like 30 FPS, promises ultimate freedom but don't even has a standard like customizing the controls to your liking, overusing the same scheme over and over again so 80% of all solutions is one of your 3 movement abilities or the fuse ability to be able to even deal moderate damage. the controls and menus are so overloaded and confusing because you are not able to make favorites on items or to exclude them to make it more pleasant.

    The dungeons are nicely themed but are just gated behind the NPC characters, their abilities (wich are mostly downgraded abilities from BotW) and otherwise they are just bigger shrines and a boss.

    The Bosses are good designed, use the limited abilities nice and you can encounter the bosses in the underground after defeating them once wich is a nice feature.

    The Underground
    The best area in the game, dark, hard and rewarding

    the story is completely BS and butchers both the past Zelda Lore and the Lore presented in the game itself

    overall the game feels like nintendo trys to get into and open world RPG with souls aspects and lost the The Legend of Zelda soul completely. just make BotW and TotK a spin of series instead of butcher the Main series and stop selling games for 70 bucks for a console that can't run it properly because you messed up    … Expand
  72. Garamari
    May 14, 2023
    4
    This game makes me despise Nintendo. It's honestly the best Zelda game ever made but it runs so terribly on the Switch. It's clear to me that Nintendo is hindering the creativity of their own developers by refusing to make decent consoles. My advice is to steer clear and hope that Nintendo makes a console this game can actually run on. This is just downright insufferable performance andThis game makes me despise Nintendo. It's honestly the best Zelda game ever made but it runs so terribly on the Switch. It's clear to me that Nintendo is hindering the creativity of their own developers by refusing to make decent consoles. My advice is to steer clear and hope that Nintendo makes a console this game can actually run on. This is just downright insufferable performance and you can tell the developers really tried their hardest to deliver the best game they could but in the end couldn't do the impossible. This is just tragic.… Expand
  73. zyshara
    May 13, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. BotW and TotK are good games, but not good Zelda games, and unfortunately for TotK, it feels like a clunkier, more disjointed version of BotW.

    Frame drops, clunky menuing and abilities, lack of meaningful storyline, and Zelda lore retconning drags the score of this game down substantially for me.

    If you’re a traditional Zelda fan then I’d recommend skipping this one in favor of playing through BotW again. $70 is way too much to ask for this glorified BotW reskin.    … Expand
  74. Wael17
    May 14, 2023
    2
    How a game feels like genshin and have a horrible graphics and gameplay mechanics have 96 rare!!! Terrible game
  75. BobJosh
    May 14, 2023
    0
    2000 graphics, awful gameplay, reused map from the last game. Overpriced dlc to an already terrible game, not unusal from nintendo to produce terrible games, reuse 20 years assets and sell the game for a huge markup.
    Story 0/10, gameplay 0/10, graphics 0/10.
  76. LHAF178
    May 15, 2023
    0
    First of all, this still doesn't feel like a Zelda game. Not anymore. The vibe, the feeling. Not the same. That being said, it has almost the same graphics, animations and mechanic as Breath of the Wild. I thought it would be a completely new game, but it looks like a reskin with some slight changes. It could've been released one or two years after BOTW as a DLC or something like that. IFirst of all, this still doesn't feel like a Zelda game. Not anymore. The vibe, the feeling. Not the same. That being said, it has almost the same graphics, animations and mechanic as Breath of the Wild. I thought it would be a completely new game, but it looks like a reskin with some slight changes. It could've been released one or two years after BOTW as a DLC or something like that. I really think Nintendo could've done much better on Switch or even go beyond the console for this game. They still do not translate the game for many languages and that is a shame. Classic Nintendo. Really don't think it deserves all the hype I was having with it mostly because it took 6 years for a new game and the way it came was the same game as before with some minor tweaks. If they get the GOTY award, this has to be because there is no competition from other games that deserves it better (that is if you don't consider Resident Evil 4 Remake, Dead Space or any other to be good just because they are remakes LOL)… Expand
  77. osizzy27
    May 14, 2023
    1
    If Nintendo built a massive floating world above Hyrule, I would have kept playing and gave it a much better score. They start you off on a decently sized floating island but then kick you back down to Hyrule. I was like “I already beat breath of the wild and loved it. I’m not doing this again.” The new special abilities weren’t as interesting to me either. I couldn’t even figure out howIf Nintendo built a massive floating world above Hyrule, I would have kept playing and gave it a much better score. They start you off on a decently sized floating island but then kick you back down to Hyrule. I was like “I already beat breath of the wild and loved it. I’m not doing this again.” The new special abilities weren’t as interesting to me either. I couldn’t even figure out how to cook in this game but I’m breath of the wild it was easy.… Expand
  78. Tormure
    May 15, 2023
    4
    Don’t get me wrong that is a good game ! But after Zelda BOTW it feels exactly the same (same process, sales quests principles, same world).

    Of course there was some extensions but it doesn’t add as much to the game than a full new development.

    Story is sh***y as f**. Hope next Zelda will be different
  79. Devanlking
    May 16, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have been so excited about this game coming out. Waited 6 years for the release. Bought the OLED TOTK switch and collectors edition of the game... Just to be so quickly disappointed only a few hours after gameplay. The end game "boss FIGHT"is placed in a good spot, but also so misplaced at the same time. Please don't tell me he just sits beneath the castle waiting for you the entire game??? Ganon is the main villain, reanimated to reap havoc but does nothing the entire game but sit beneath the castle waiting??... I'm no pro at all and somehow ruined my whole experience with the game in the first 2 hours...Check this.

    You're granted access to the castle grounds in the first quest of the game right, you're basically walking around the floating castle next to the chasm from the start so I figure why not, let's save the game and jump down into this chasm to see if anything cool is down there and BOOM! what do you know, as long as you can run past a few goonies the end game boss is down there and you could beat the game then if there if you want... Are you *#%*# kidding me?? Is this because of speedrunners being a big thing in BOTW? If he's just beneath the castle the whole game, does that mean he doesn't even show his face at all the entire game or push back in any way? Start a war? Raise an army to fight back against the land of Hyrule and its hero's? Please tell me I'm speaking too soon and y'all havnt just ruined this game by trying to hard to make a replica of BOTW.    … Expand
  80. RJexter
    May 19, 2023
    4
    Boring, empty and lonely is a good description. Lacks any personality of the previous Zelda games. Basically no story. Runs **** Very choppy frame rates.
  81. slim1985
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Screw the open world sh!t and keep it semi like old entries games like OoT and MM were the best zelda formula
  82. gusman
    May 15, 2023
    4
    How the heck this can have nearly 9 points? This game is BORING, even worse than BOTW. Since the beginning you are dropped in a dead world with barely nothing in it, sanctuaries are boring as hell, mechanics are terribly slow, butter-weapons mechanic is still there... Wasted 60€.
    If you want a real Zelda experience play Link's awakening, that at least feels like a real zelda and not this crap.
  83. radulle
    May 14, 2023
    0
    I completed BotW and I'm almost to the end of TotK so I believe I have the right to stress my disappointment with the game:
    - Game feels more like a MOD of the original than a true sequel (more like BoTW 1.5).
    - Story is again pretty shallow, characters are one dimensional and it's hard to care for them. - It is pretty much a rehash of the old one with much more meaningless side-quests    I completed BotW and I'm almost to the end of TotK so I believe I have the right to stress my disappointment with the game:
    - Game feels more like a MOD of the original than a true sequel (more like BoTW 1.5).
    - Story is again pretty shallow, characters are one dimensional and it's hard to care for them.
    - It is pretty much a rehash of the old one with much more meaningless side-quests and filler tasks.
    - Build system everyone is so stoked about is nothing new and is not implemented very well.
    - Puzzles are too simple and formulaic for adults.
    I wander, maybe I'm just too old, kids do find the game fun to play. Still I'm certain this does not deserve universal praise it is receiving from critics, something smells fishy...    … Expand
  84. TDoubleE
    May 13, 2023
    0
    Underdeveloped for game in 2023 if u can create good story and gameplay but cannot do it in graphic performance. Dev's no shame for launch low quality graphic game but proud in former merit from Nintendo master race. LMAO
  85. Dunkeyfan0223
    May 14, 2023
    0
    I was very disappointed by the games performance on my Nintendo switch Oled
  86. BoneBashed
    May 16, 2023
    1
    The combat is meant for lobotomy patients and the exploration is mind numbing, walk from point to point to unlock the map just to grind out un-enjoyable shrines and for what? The plot of "Sigh, somehow Ganondorf has returned for the billionth time" is as about as fun as eating tinfoil balls filled with wet paint. Everyone is collectively sucking nintendo off because they did what badThe combat is meant for lobotomy patients and the exploration is mind numbing, walk from point to point to unlock the map just to grind out un-enjoyable shrines and for what? The plot of "Sigh, somehow Ganondorf has returned for the billionth time" is as about as fun as eating tinfoil balls filled with wet paint. Everyone is collectively sucking nintendo off because they did what bad piggies did over a decade ago.… Expand
  87. Blab
    May 13, 2023
    0
    My fears coming into this game were proven correct, not enough new content and runs horribly on switch, not worth the steep $70 price-tag. Save your money and just replay BOTW instead.
  88. deejay2828
    May 18, 2023
    0
    It is a way to expensive DLC with new and terrible mechanics. I really liked the first or main game. This is a disapointment.
  89. 113
    May 16, 2023
    0
    Tears of the kingdom, more like tear in my eyes when I play this... Gottem (True though, its not a very fun game, it is quite boring and the game has terrible framerate 3/4 of the time felt the game was empty alot of the time despite open world and the puzzles were mediocre at best. I miss the old Zelda games when they were actually fun to play)
  90. Dunkenbeans
    May 14, 2023
    1
    It's botw with some slight extras

    Nintendo continues to be a detriment to there own games with there stubbornness and fascination with sticking with there overpriced, underpowered hardware, totk suffers from being a PS3 gen game in a current gen world. 720p and 20fps is unacceptable for a $70 2023 tittle. The game is a rehash of botw and took 6 years to release, if this game was produced    It's botw with some slight extras

    Nintendo continues to be a detriment to there own games with there stubbornness and fascination with sticking with there overpriced, underpowered hardware, totk suffers from being a PS3 gen game in a current gen world.

    720p and 20fps is unacceptable for a $70 2023 tittle. The game is a rehash of botw and took 6 years to release, if this game was produced by any other company you'd see droves of 1* reviews.

    It's fine as a game, it's just not good.    … Expand
  91. ktwm1
    May 15, 2023
    0
    Really disappointed with this game. It has worse graphics and performs more poorly than botw. They've added a building mechanic to the game which was interesting at first but then.
  92. Infandus
    May 19, 2023
    4
    This game is a solid meh out of 10. All the puzzles and "temples" are pretty dull using the glue mechanic as a crutch. The boss fights are easier than some normal monster fights, the only hard part is your help that you need is constantly running away from you.... The cut scene at the end of every fight IS THE EXACT SAME, just told by a different person. I don't understand. Nintendo didn'tThis game is a solid meh out of 10. All the puzzles and "temples" are pretty dull using the glue mechanic as a crutch. The boss fights are easier than some normal monster fights, the only hard part is your help that you need is constantly running away from you.... The cut scene at the end of every fight IS THE EXACT SAME, just told by a different person. I don't understand. Nintendo didn't have to create a new engine, and the world was already mostly built from botw. I'm not even going to mention the stupid high price of 70 bucks and piss poor performance and graphic fidelity. For the price and how it runs I can't recommend anyone purchase this for use on a switch at its current price.… Expand
  93. lfefer
    May 15, 2023
    0
    Game looks like Wii one or Cube is disrespectful to studios that strive to make games really awesome, they took the easy way out to do the same, no real innovation just fan service. Someone should demand that Nintendo sacrifice a little more out of respect for technological advances, 60fps 4K, games with current techniques, not hackneyed formulas.
  94. BryceTheEevee
    May 13, 2023
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I cannot express how disappointed I am as a fan of the more traditional Zelda formula that this game is just more of the same, a literal 70$ dlc for lazly adding more map. 6 years of waiting for the same garbage. Huge disappointment if you disliked botw.… Expand
  95. mffrumeu
    May 14, 2023
    0
    6 years to copy and paste BOTW. Oh my God, Nintendo just destroyed my illusions.

    The first 2 hours of the game are exactly the same as BOTW. But THE SAME! Same story, same steps (even the snow part and the tedious cooking). Hyrule is, again, the same map. So it changes from "I'm going to enjoy discovering the map of Hyrule" to "Oh my god, again the same map and this tedious towers    6 years to copy and paste BOTW. Oh my God, Nintendo just destroyed my illusions.

    The first 2 hours of the game are exactly the same as BOTW. But THE SAME! Same story, same steps (even the snow part and the tedious cooking).

    Hyrule is, again, the same map. So it changes from "I'm going to enjoy discovering the map of Hyrule" to "Oh my god, again the same map and this tedious towers mechanisms to unveil the map".

    The weapons. In BOTW there vere some very nice weapons. Here you have to craft very stupid weapons with rocks and other things. They ruined the weapons scheme.

    I've been playing for 10 hours and I don't know if I wanna play more just to walk for hours in the same scenarios, mountains and lakes.

    Finally, the switch. This game should have been launched with a new Switch. Simply the console is too old to decently run TOTK.

    A deception, in all senses.    … Expand
  96. Yeluxxxxx
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 720p 20fps Are you kidding me?

    The game I was so eagerly anticipating turned out to be a major letdown due to its poor optimization. Despite my excitement and high hopes, the game's lowly 720p resolution and stuttering 20 frames per second left me feeling extremely angry and frustrated.

    I was constantly plagued by lag spikes, choppy animations, and sluggish controls, which made even basic gameplay actions feel like a chore. Every time I tried to immerse myself in the game's world, I was pulled back to reality by the constant interruptions and slowdowns.

    It was especially infuriating to know that these issues could have been easily avoided with better optimization. It was clear that the developers had neglected this aspect of the game in favor of flashy graphics and other superficial features. They had failed to prioritize the smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience that gamers like me crave.

    I couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal and disappointment as I played through the game. All my excitement and anticipation had been for nothing, and I was left with a subpar gaming experience that barely resembled what I had been promised.

    As I navigated through the poorly optimized world, I couldn't help but wonder how much better the game could have been if the developers had put in more effort. It was clear that they had squandered a great opportunity to create something truly special, instead settling for a half-baked product that was barely functional.

    All in all, the game's poor optimization left me feeling incredibly angry and let down. It's a shame that such a promising title was ruined by such a simple and avoidable flaw. Until the developers can address these issues and deliver the polished, optimized experience that gamers like me demand, I won't be wasting any more of my time or money on their games.    … Expand
  97. Rj_Rhodes
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Overglorified DLC
    Not a Zelda game
    Overhyped trash
    If I wanted crafting systems I would have played Minecraft.
  98. brain2233
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Poor performance is not worth the $70 price tag. Not worth the purchase wait for the new console release.
  99. Miganika
    May 14, 2023
    0
    Nintendo's lazyness is big on this one. A forced agressive FSR 1.0 profile that drops the resolution from 900P to 780P 20 FPS in busy scenes, giving you a blurry mess and shifting resolution to crazy visuals that are unbelievably jarring.

    The game suffers from every Breath of the wild 's flaws, that were criticized LONG after the game was out to avoid being in trouble with nintendo,    Nintendo's lazyness is big on this one. A forced agressive FSR 1.0 profile that drops the resolution from 900P to 780P 20 FPS in busy scenes, giving you a blurry mess and shifting resolution to crazy visuals that are unbelievably jarring.

    The game suffers from every Breath of the wild 's flaws, that were criticized LONG after the game was out to avoid being in trouble with nintendo, this game suffers the same barrage of fanboyism on day one, but little by little everyone that has played enough of this game see what everyone with a sound mind see :

    The same boring map as Botw, you rediscover absolutely nothing, it is even boring to have to redo all the same map, they couldn't think of any new mechanics too forcing you to accomplish 120 shrines on the main map and 32 in the sky. Not to even talk of the reused korok system . what is even more outrageous is the divine beast tier easy 5 sages dungeons. Not a single one was difficult, at all, the ambiance of BOTW was darker and felt like there was also much more at stake then this disney ified, cheap "sequel", the issue here is to sell this as a new game, it is not, it reuses 90% of all the known assets, animations, ennemies, there is maybe only 4 new ennemies in the whole game. one of them crawl on the roof of caves, one of them is a tree, another one is a pool of bloody hands trying to catch you, and the last one is a 3 headed dragon, THAT's IT !!! the rest of the game has every same reused ennemies from botw.

    Even memories storytelling system is as janky and badly managed as BOTW with 11 tears, so, 11 memories to find and you can find them, again, one of the biggest flaws of BOTW repeated the exact same way, in an anachronous, desynched manner, forcing you to rewatch all of them in a chronological order because we didn't feel like guiding the game with quests that make sense story telling wise at nintendo, profiting from the nature of the open world to get lazy AGAIN.

    There is also a lot of cut content from the trailers we saw, and they will obviously be made into dlc's, when we saw link in a special environment on the back of a huge animal, that is nowhere to be find in the current game, if you release a trailer for the game and cut content that was advertised as is before launch, i call it false advertisement. The trailer also gave the promise of a darker, more interesting game then botw dungeon wise, and nintendo saying the dungeons will not be divine beast like but have more of a regional feel to them and not do the same thing again. Guess what... These dungeons are as bad and as SHORT and easy as divine beast, even a toddler can finish one in under 20 minutes, and the bosses are way way way too easy too. leaving absolutely not much of a memorable moment , any taste in the mouth as they are done way too fast and give you absolutely no challenge.    … Expand
  100. ofessional_
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Es un buen juego pero la comunidad es una basura no dejan de spamear que su juegito goty que su jueguito aquí que su jueguito allá ya parenle por favor… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Switch Game of 2023
1
#1 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 150 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 145 out of 150
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 150
  3. Negative: 0 out of 150
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Mar 18, 2024
    100
    I wasn't sure how Nintendo would find a way to top their work in Breath of the Wild back when it came out, but I feel they have here – with years of more polish applied and refined exploration. [Issue #66 – July/August 2023, p. 71]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    100
    The good thing is that, thanks to the limited possibilities, the creators couldn't go crazy and swing for hundreds of game miles. Instead, they created what could be called Elden Ring in a travel pack. [Issue#328]
  3. Shacknews
    Dec 28, 2023
    100
    The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has lived up to the high expectations created by the success of Breath of the Wild with its exquisitely intertwined gameplay systems, outstanding music, and a legendary story culminating in a magnificent denouement. It's not every day that such a special video game like this comes around. Truly the stuff of legend.
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