The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

 Wii U
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2573 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,021 out of 2573
  2. Mixed: 222 out of 2573
  3. Negative: 330 out of 2573
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  1. Mistrz
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    It's amazing! I have probably put in close to 30 hours and I'm nowhere close to beating it. I am working on one of the four "dungeons" that the game offers and it seems like it is going to be a good one. The framerate issues haven't been an issue for me and I think that people are just being really critical, it's not like these issues happen often or it goes to a crawl. The game is greatIt's amazing! I have probably put in close to 30 hours and I'm nowhere close to beating it. I am working on one of the four "dungeons" that the game offers and it seems like it is going to be a good one. The framerate issues haven't been an issue for me and I think that people are just being really critical, it's not like these issues happen often or it goes to a crawl. The game is great and I am loving the combat and everything about the game and am looking forward to putting 100+ hours into the game and then getting this on the switch when I pick one up.… Expand
  2. Platinum_Laser
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    The game starts you in the middle of this huge open world and doesn't force you to do anything with it there is no companion that is constantly nagging at you to get to a certain location. It is also surprising how much depth the game offers for a world of its size, the game is full of fun small puzzles called shrines (on top of the dungeons) and is also filled with fun and quirkyThe game starts you in the middle of this huge open world and doesn't force you to do anything with it there is no companion that is constantly nagging at you to get to a certain location. It is also surprising how much depth the game offers for a world of its size, the game is full of fun small puzzles called shrines (on top of the dungeons) and is also filled with fun and quirky characters.

    The combat system has also been remade, Enemies now deal more damage and don't drop health and your items are constantly breaking at the begging of the game which forces you to think out your attacks carefully and manage your supply.

    Overall this game is a must buy whether your a Zelda fan or not and really shows what developers can do if there not afraid to change things up and In Nintendo's case it gave them a game which will be remembered forever in gaming history.

    But that's not why you read this review you wanted to know how this runs on the Wii U compared to the Switch and I can safely day that this game runs smoothly and besides the first few minutes in the begging it kept a constant frame rate.Keep in mind that this game was original made for the Wii U so it is not a downgraded version of the game the switch is just a boosted version of the Wii U's This game is a must buy if you have a Wii U and does not require the switch to have the full experience.    … Expand
  3. Evreegamer
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    Switch's glorious launch-title is also Wii U's triumphant Swan Song. "Breath Of The Wild" feels like the proper culmination of 30 years of design lessons and wonderfully executed ideas. Hyrule has never looked as gorgeous. From the moment the game starts it announces itself as a revelation. If you're a fan of this legendary series, this is a must own and for everyone else this game makesSwitch's glorious launch-title is also Wii U's triumphant Swan Song. "Breath Of The Wild" feels like the proper culmination of 30 years of design lessons and wonderfully executed ideas. Hyrule has never looked as gorgeous. From the moment the game starts it announces itself as a revelation. If you're a fan of this legendary series, this is a must own and for everyone else this game makes for a great proposition in gameplay perfection.… Expand
  4. Cfgk24
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    Absolutely outstanding! This is such a beautiful immersive experience - I haven't been able to sleep properly for 3 nights now as I've been up playing this game so late - This is the best way to judge a game - if you can't put it down! - a rarity for me!
    THe amount of effort and attention to detail put int this game is astonishing - Nintendo and the team deserve every single bit of praise    Absolutely outstanding! This is such a beautiful immersive experience - I haven't been able to sleep properly for 3 nights now as I've been up playing this game so late - This is the best way to judge a game - if you can't put it down! - a rarity for me!
    THe amount of effort and attention to detail put int this game is astonishing - Nintendo and the team deserve every single bit of praise they can get on this!    … Expand
  5. benibass
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    Genius, this is genius. You must play it ! They totally reinvented what game play means, what video game means. Thank you so much for this experience, there will be an before and after this game.
  6. Sadikusama
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Believe the hype. I was skeptical at first, seeing so many 10s and 100s given out to this game. I went blindly into Breath of the Wild knowing nothing about it except for the main trailer of the game. Hours into the game I can only agree: this game is a masterpiece.

    There is so much contect, so many things to do, so many places to explore. You are given complete freedom in this    Believe the hype. I was skeptical at first, seeing so many 10s and 100s given out to this game. I went blindly into Breath of the Wild knowing nothing about it except for the main trailer of the game. Hours into the game I can only agree: this game is a masterpiece.

    There is so much contect, so many things to do, so many places to explore. You are given complete freedom in this adventure, you can even try to beat the game as soon as you start. Freedom and exploration are perhaps the best gameplay aspects, without leaving behind the sheer amount of actions possible: cooking, riding horseback, climbing... Whether you actually beat the story is also up to you, there is so much to invest in this game you might never grow bored of it.

    Go play this game. Now. This isn't your typical 10/10 game, it goes beyond that. This game is now videogame history.    … Expand
  7. raploz
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Besides some frame-drop issues, this game is a absolute masterpiece. It's full of quests and the exploration is amazing. It gives you the freedom to explore everything, and you can interact with almost anything: cut a tree to make a bridge, get resources, make food, use rocks to collide with explosives and kill enemies, get their weapons, use magnets to solve puzzles, create ice to makeBesides some frame-drop issues, this game is a absolute masterpiece. It's full of quests and the exploration is amazing. It gives you the freedom to explore everything, and you can interact with almost anything: cut a tree to make a bridge, get resources, make food, use rocks to collide with explosives and kill enemies, get their weapons, use magnets to solve puzzles, create ice to make platforms, etc. Besides that, you gotta make some strategies, because there's not a lot of resources or weapons you can carry. Sometimes you find yourself fighting an enemy and you run out of weapons or food, so you gotta manage your resources very carefully. You really forget about time when you're playing it, it's fun and break some of Zelda conventions in a good way.… Expand
  8. demonfire737
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    Not a perfect game, there really is no such thing in my opinion, but Breath of the Wild is definitely one of the best games I've ever played. I'll admit that I am a long time Zelda fan-boy, starting in the year 2000 with Ocarina of Time, but I've seen several reviews from Zelda fan-boys who say "It's not Zelda 0/10! No dungeons only mini puzzles! Climbing simulator 2017! blah blah blah",Not a perfect game, there really is no such thing in my opinion, but Breath of the Wild is definitely one of the best games I've ever played. I'll admit that I am a long time Zelda fan-boy, starting in the year 2000 with Ocarina of Time, but I've seen several reviews from Zelda fan-boys who say "It's not Zelda 0/10! No dungeons only mini puzzles! Climbing simulator 2017! blah blah blah", but I believe that it certainly deserves the high ratings that it gets. Would it get so many 10/10's if it didn't have that Zelda name? Probably not, but the ratings would still be high.

    One thing in particular that stands out to me is the distinct lack of guidance in this game. It is both a blessing and a curse. The main quest will tell you exactly where you need to go (the order and timing is up to you), but side quests leave a map marker only on the quest giver (mostly) and you are left with the directions that they gave you. It's up to your own intuition to complete these tasks. On one hand this is a refreshing change from the norm of many current games where you always feel like you are watching the map marker, following the golden trail, etc. Here, however, you follow your intuition, study the landscape, and figure things out for yourself which makes it that much more rewarding when you finish each quest. But it can also be frustrating, some quests can seem very vague and even frustrating. Overall I'd say I like this inclusion, but it won't be for everyone.

    Anyway, let's break this down.

    Pros:
    Large, varied open world
    Stunning visuals and vibrant colours
    Dynamic weather system that affects environment (For example rain makes it hard to climb)
    Hot and cold environments that require heat or cold resistances
    Absolute minimum of invisible walls
    Plenty of things to do
    Interesting side quests
    Fun verity of weapons
    Many options for taking down enemies
    No broken promises (looking at you Hello Games)
    Mostly good frame rate
    Endless cooking options, mix up to five ingredients and see what happens!
    Less guidance than most current games
    Complete main dungeons in any order you want
    Tame horses, bears, deer, a ghost horse thing!
    Collectibles that I actually want to collect
    An interesting backstory that you must hunt down piece by piece
    Many weapon types
    Shield surfing
    The return, and appealing redesigns, of many awesome past races
    Challenging minibosses scattered around the world
    Minimal bugs, at least in my game, one of the most polished and bug free games I have played in some time

    Cons:
    Frame dropping in some towns and thick forests, by no means unplayable, but a touch irritating (I don't care about 30 or 60 fps differences, I only care when it drops below 20)
    Not much enemy variety, late game enemies are just different colours with higher health
    Not many minibosses, only four types unfortunately. Could have really stood to have more
    Only five real dungeons, four that are somewhat short and visually similar (albeit challenging and unique) and one final dungeon
    Lack of tutorials for some non-essential, but fun mechanics (such as shield surfing)
    Limited weapon, bow, and shield inventories. You can improve them as the game goes on, but it is slow.
    Voice acting ranges from acceptable to terrible.
    Don't expect good lip syncing, but remember that this game was made in Japan

    Those cons did little to ruin my experience, and I struggle to think of more after my at least 60 hour playtime.

    Some may not like the whole breakable weapons thing, but I think that they really encourage the player to try all different kinds of weapons. If weapons were unbreakable, I'd just pick up a sword and a boomerang and never bother with anything else, but in this game I find myself using all manner of weapons even those I usually avoid in other games, like hammers, axes and spears, and you'll hardly be starved of them since weapons are everywhere.

    Honestly, if you love open worlds with a variety of stunning landscapes and plenty of adventure, if you love combining random foods to see what it makes, if you love thinking of something crazy and seeing if it works, and it does, then this is a game for you. If you're a Zelda purist, then you should probably play a different game.    … Expand
  9. Hryciuk
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    Nintendo heard your complaints with Skyward Sword, and has done everything in their power to fix it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely was in love with the game, and had a blast playing it. Although, I will admit to their faults since over the years I haven't let my bias turn into denial. It had a lot of padding, some good, some absolutely WTF? (Looking at you tadtone trial which ironicallyNintendo heard your complaints with Skyward Sword, and has done everything in their power to fix it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely was in love with the game, and had a blast playing it. Although, I will admit to their faults since over the years I haven't let my bias turn into denial. It had a lot of padding, some good, some absolutely WTF? (Looking at you tadtone trial which ironically I liked) but Breath of the Wild has set a new benchmark for the series and for gaming in general.

    Skyrim was not a stellar game by any means, and people say Zelda is copying it (yes, an open world game from 1986 is copycat) then you know nothing about video games. I find it hilarious how people are actually falling for the fail trolls. It's either A) hilarious because I admit to trolling because it's funny. B) not a Nintendo fan and upset that the most critically acclaimed video game of all time is once again a Zelda game.

    With Breath of the Wild, you have an absolutely massive map filled with content that you will only find if you dig deep into every corner. I played for 22 hours until I even reached my first dungeon in Zora's Domain which is what you're advised to do very early on from leaving the Great Plateau. I have to say the dungeon design is the best in the series, although not theme based, it's use of physics and your runes are absolutely unique and incredible. I haven't felt so puzzled by a Zelda game since Majora's Mask or Ocarina of Time Master Quest. The combat for the first time in the 3D series I have actually avoided enemies because I accepted defeat. SS did have it's challenges, but even that game was undeniably simple when compared to this game.

    I often find myself lost in the vast, gorgeous world and always attempting to try new things. Shrine searching can be difficult 40 shrines deep but can be rewarding, there are areas in the game you should not go to until you have a good number of hearts, stamina, and good gear. 30 hours in and you will still barely be in the zone for that. The shrines are one of the most fun parts, short mini-dungeons that creatively use the laws of physics and multi-tasking to get the most out of your brain. Nintendo isn't shy to challenge you and realizes not everyone is an idiot. (Looking at you Microsoft fans.)

    The story, I won't spoil. But it is done very expertly as well. It's interesting, and always keeps you wanting more. After you are required to search out for your memories, I find it really unique. The first five memories I found were by carefully scouting the picture and realizing where that should be near. I saw Vah Medoh flying in the scenery, with the castle and a dry looking mountain area. I determined where that should be on my map and after a bit of exploration around my prediction, I found it. Others I found completely by coming across while journeying through the massive landscape. It truly is great.

    All in all, this is the most definitive game in The Legend of Zelda series, and it is by far the greatest game of all time. Anyone who hasn't played this game, or doesn't like it because it's Zelda, has no idea what a phenomenal experience they are missing out on. Zelda has once again redefined video games.    … Expand
  10. AlbertoRey
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    El mismo juego que Switch y va exactamente igual en una consola menos potente y que se puede encontrar por un precio bastante inferior y que tecnicamente es lo mismo
  11. exsoul01
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    An absolutely incredible game, it gives me the same awe and wonder that I felt years ago when I first played ocarina of time. The only thing that can be annoying sometimes is the occasional drop in fps but those are few and far between.
  12. BEELZEBUB4
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Zelda games always deliver. The music, the dungeons, the world feels like it's alive. If there's something in terms of gameplay that you think is possible - it is. Some minor framedrops on the WiiU, but nothing too nasty. The game gets you from the first seconds. A true, unique adventure.
  13. sincred
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    the best game of the year. (the best game of the year) An absolute masterpiece. This game will change your life, and how you look at video games forever. The Nintendo magic is here in full force, and they've outdone themselves, and truly cemented themselves as the greatest developer of all time.
  14. MasterOfGaming2
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    An absolute masterpiece. This game will change your life, and how you look at video games forever. The Nintendo magic is here in full force, and they've outdone themselves, and truly cemented themselves as the greatest developer of all time.

    Perfection.
  15. lrobert
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Nintendo is BACK! BotW IS THE ZELDA GAME. It is even better than Ocarina of Time, AND THAT MEANS A LOT.

    It's beautiful, it's long, has an amazing gameplay and of course, is fun.
  16. super_flatman
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Vengo a darle un 10 porque todos los sonyers vienen a tirar mierda llena de envidia.
    En cualquier caso estuve jugando la version de Wii U y es una maravilla, lo dice alguien que nisiquiera es un fan de esta saga.
  17. Pempek
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Easily the best game ever made, a real lesson about how to made a open world, the industry will need learn again how and what is the purpose of your games, Breath of the Wild is big, consistent, beautiful, deep, everything that you know about perfection elevated at your maximum,
  18. EpicLadySponge
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Breath of the Wild broke a lot of records in the history of gaming. By that, I mean it is most likely impossible to find one thing wrong with this game. It's like Nintendo took the base of Ocarina of Time and modernize it to make it look like this game over here. This is why Nintendo will forever remain in my heart no matter where it all goes. I'm telling you this, Breath of the Wild hasBreath of the Wild broke a lot of records in the history of gaming. By that, I mean it is most likely impossible to find one thing wrong with this game. It's like Nintendo took the base of Ocarina of Time and modernize it to make it look like this game over here. This is why Nintendo will forever remain in my heart no matter where it all goes. I'm telling you this, Breath of the Wild has everything... yes, every... single... thing that made Ocarina of Time look like a masterpiece. This is the lost brother of Ocarina of Time and the true brother Ocarina of Time will ever need. Just go buy this game, it wants your money so bad, it wants you to play it so bad, it wants to be your local friend literally bad. I'll be waiting until you get this game.… Expand
  19. vgmkyle
    Mar 3, 2017
    9
    Don't fall for the Switch hype if you don't want one... this game looks absolutely fantastic on Wii U, and it rarely dips for how good it looks. I mean it looks way better than those phony comparisons I have seen on Youtube. I'm impressed and I just saved like a million dollars cause there is NO other reason to get a Switch.
  20. Icecreamcult
    Mar 25, 2017
    8
    This new entry into the Zelda franchise is so weird. So many fans waited so long for this title, and its very interesting to see the mass reaction from the critics versus reactions from the players.

    This is one of few games I would stress to avoid critic reviews. The game in actuality is somewhere around a 7 - 9, not a perfect 10 in my opinion. In order for it to be a perfect 10, It    This new entry into the Zelda franchise is so weird. So many fans waited so long for this title, and its very interesting to see the mass reaction from the critics versus reactions from the players.

    This is one of few games I would stress to avoid critic reviews.

    The game in actuality is somewhere around a 7 - 9, not a perfect 10 in my opinion. In order for it to be a perfect 10, It would need a few things, including:

    - A better working framerate
    - More dungeons, harder puzzles and main story line
    - More engaging side quests
    - Way harsher difficulty curve ( Although there is the Masterquest/Hard mode coming out for expansion pass owners so this one can be exempt for about 20 bucks and some time)
    - More Items (like the runes, I felt so limited with only the bombs, Magnesis, Stasis and Cryosis.)

    I understand the gripe with the music, but as a active music student at a performing arts college I felt the music was very appropriate for the setting. The ambient piano that accompanies you throughout your travels is so soothing, and the themes of the different villages are so underrated. All the music was up to zelda par for me, and I have been listening to the OST's of all the zelda games for years, so there is no bias either. I love the new approach, but I can definitely understand the concern.

    The worst problem of this game is the lack of a satisfying main quest. Eight or so years for this!? Four dungeons that I completed within an hour and a final run at Hyrule castle that I also beat within an hour? Compared to ANY of the old zelda games, this is embarrassing. Even the worst received games in the series had so much more story and challenge, taking me weeks to figure out puzzles. The first entry in the game has 9 levels, so even the title with no linear story had so much more content then this one. Other Zelda games were so hard, I would quit them for months or years, only to come back and finish them when I had more patient or tried something new. I find it hard to believe that could happen to anyone in this game, and I am disappointed for that. I beat it in about two weeks, with college finals and a job outside of classes.

    Compare that to Majora's Mask, Another experimental title in the series that took me about a month or two to beat. It also had only four temples and a main boss, yet it was so much harder and felt so much more satisfying when I beat the game.

    And even if the reason for the lack of main story was for us to explore this "amazing open world" then I need more engaging quests. Not shrines that have me do one basic puzzle and leave. Or fetch quests where I have to bring a boy every weapon I find. Gimme some Skyrim esque quests where it has a story and could be almost considered a main quest as well. Let me join a guild or become Archmage please.

    Dont get me wrong though, this game has amazing, very artistic graphics. They are not meant to be crazy high definition. Graphics have never been why we play Nintendo. The characters were quite interesting as well, although I wish I could have seen them more often. Also, Exploration is the best part of this game. The freedom of exploring the world was so entertaining.

    All in all, this game is a fun start to a new era of Zelda. Lets just hope the following Zelda games will learn from it's mistakes.    … Expand
  21. Koyzumie
    Apr 5, 2017
    10
    The first game in 20 years to make me lose sleep playing it. I have played 90 hours so far and can say that this game is an utter masterpiece.

    Pros: Beautiful music score Sprawling game world rich with content Clevar and accessible puzzles Functional and fashionable customizable clothing Beautiful graphics Amiibo support (never really used them for anything else) Endless Easter    The first game in 20 years to make me lose sleep playing it. I have played 90 hours so far and can say that this game is an utter masterpiece.

    Pros:
    Beautiful music score
    Sprawling game world rich with content
    Clevar and accessible puzzles
    Functional and fashionable customizable clothing
    Beautiful graphics
    Amiibo support (never really used them for anything else)
    Endless Easter eggs for the zelda veteran
    Intuitive controls
    Consistent game mechanics
    Incredible value (69.99 for 90+ hours of fun, halo 5 only gave me 6)
    Rewards player agency

    Cons:
    no touch input for the switch or wii u
    No way to dynamically reorganize inventory
    Some frame rate slowdowns
    900 vertical resolution, not 1080
    Most of the amiibo you would want to get for it are unavailable or ridiculously rare/expensive.    … Expand
  22. the8bither0
    Apr 7, 2017
    10
    It's hard for me to judge games while I am playing them, as I feel like i get caught up in the moment/hype. But I have to say, a month or so after the launch of Breath of the Wild, and a few weeks after beating it, it's the best game I've ever played. Sure it has some flaws like the weapon durability, but of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of games I have played in my life, this game madeIt's hard for me to judge games while I am playing them, as I feel like i get caught up in the moment/hype. But I have to say, a month or so after the launch of Breath of the Wild, and a few weeks after beating it, it's the best game I've ever played. Sure it has some flaws like the weapon durability, but of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of games I have played in my life, this game made me feel more wonder than anything else ever has. It is everything I've ever wanted in a game.… Expand
  23. QuietGiant
    Mar 27, 2017
    9
    I took my time with this game and finally finished it last night, complete with all shrines and memories. While a great game, its shortcomings are too significant to receive the utmost praise.

    Its open world design is a bold step for the series. Hyrule is vast, varied, and filled with little secrets and treasures, but follows industry formula more than ardent fans would have you    I took my time with this game and finally finished it last night, complete with all shrines and memories. While a great game, its shortcomings are too significant to receive the utmost praise.

    Its open world design is a bold step for the series. Hyrule is vast, varied, and filled with little secrets and treasures, but follows industry formula more than ardent fans would have you believe, complete with watchtowers to unlock the map and outposts to clear. The survival elements are substantial and incorporation with your gear impressive, but can also be more hassle than fun when you sometimes spend nearly as much time in the menus as playing live. Speaking of hassles, there's nothing mixed about the weapon 'fragility' system, as it's been coined; it's just a pain for weapons not to last even one big battle, pause midfight to swap gear, discard prized items because there is no proper locker in the game, have to hang up and never use unique weapons if you don't want to lose them, or have no way of even maintaining weapons before they break. Combat is serviceable; there's lots of ways to play around but the meat is simple and getting a handle on your dodges and parries is all you really need.

    The puzzles, I think, suffer from quantity over quality. The shrines will keep you busy for hours but are breakable via the physics and the numerous strength trials are painfully repetitive. The koroks all over the world are fun to spot and unearth but end up recycling the same handful of tasks some hundred times each. Shrine quests are good fun but most side missions are extremely unremarkable. Completing all of any of these can eventually become a drag, and with all of these in the game the main 'dungeons' have suffered, being smaller and less memorable than past entries.

    Presentation is good but has its rough spots. At one point the visuals can dazzle with beautiful plains, rich color, lovely shading, effects, physics, and art, the next it can grate with inconsistent textures, chugging performance (I've even had 0fps spikes), and bad image quality. Sound is nice, but I've heard better. Still, it's impressive what they've been able to pack into relatively low power hardware.

    Finally, there's the storytelling, which has never been Nintendo's strong suit. Most of the story is entirely optional and must be hunted down. That could be a benefit for those who just want to play but create a very fragmented and piecemeal narrative for those interested. What little voice acting there is is mediocre. Characters run the gamut from forgettable to one dimensional to amusing, while a handful rise up to be delightful or even well written. One thing I must credit though is some of the unexpected chuckles that pop up in the dialogue menus, even from our laconic hero. Taken as a whole the story is passable.

    I've been critical, but over all, Breath of the Wild is a great game. It's vast and detailed and lots of bang for your buck, I just don't think it's quite worthy of all the perfect scores critics and consumers alike have been tripping over themselves to give it - or of being called the best Zelda game.

    P.S.: It's not as hard as some make it out to be, either.    … Expand
  24. bossfred
    Apr 23, 2017
    10
    Jogo perfeito, mundo imenso e cheio de segredos, sempre fui fã da franquia e ja tinha passado da hora de atualizar as mecânicas do game. Nintendo esta perdoada pelos atrasos na entrega, o game é incrível em todos os aspectos!
  25. AlesonLennon
    Apr 8, 2017
    10
    The game is perfect note 10! It is the best experience of an open world game that has, every person who considers himself a gamer should play is a must, simply a masterpiece.
  26. TheHumbleGamer
    Apr 6, 2017
    9
    As a long time Zelda fan it was always a worry that Nintendo may one day change the traditional Zelda formula we've all come to love. But for what it's worth, Nintendo has done an absolutely fantastic job at bringing Zelda into an entirely new genre. No open world/sandbox game even comes close to this one in terms of its exploration. The world around you feels both alive and yet dead atAs a long time Zelda fan it was always a worry that Nintendo may one day change the traditional Zelda formula we've all come to love. But for what it's worth, Nintendo has done an absolutely fantastic job at bringing Zelda into an entirely new genre. No open world/sandbox game even comes close to this one in terms of its exploration. The world around you feels both alive and yet dead at the same time, giving a real sense of depth to the events the games tells you about through it's story that lead to Hyrule being in it's current state. The characters are all wonderful and filled with personality and the weapon durability system is fine, despite what many have said.

    There's plenty to discover and do in this game and along the way you're accompanied by a very ambient soundtrack that isn't too intrusive or out of place, but definitely isn't like the music you remember from older Zelda games. There are very few big dungeons but there are 120 small shrines, which are each a puzzle of their own. Every area of breath of the wild feels different from the scorching hot Gerudo desert to the extremely cold and snowy tundra. Each area has its own positives and negatives, with certain enemies native to certain regions and the cold and hot both being able to damage link at there most extreme.

    It took me 150+ hours to do everything this game had to offer, which I would say was more than enough for this kind of game. Not a single second of that time I consider wasted. I feel like this game provides everything necessary for a full fledged Zelda experience in an open world.

    An absolutely incredible experience worth every penny paid and every second played.    … Expand
  27. EtaYorius
    Apr 22, 2019
    9
    Finally, the game that redefined Zelda! it has a bit of every modern game out there. A true masterpiece.
  28. ricklongo
    Apr 28, 2017
    10
    It's commonplace nowadays to refer to The Legend of Zelda as formulaic, but the franchise is no stranger to sweeping change. From Ocarina of Time's 3D revolution to the touch-based DS experiments, Nintendo's flagship adventure series has tried quite a few new directions, with varying levels of success. None of those experiments, however, were as comprehensive as Breath of the Wild. AndIt's commonplace nowadays to refer to The Legend of Zelda as formulaic, but the franchise is no stranger to sweeping change. From Ocarina of Time's 3D revolution to the touch-based DS experiments, Nintendo's flagship adventure series has tried quite a few new directions, with varying levels of success. None of those experiments, however, were as comprehensive as Breath of the Wild. And none of them were ultimately as fantastic.

    This sense of newness is made clear from the beginning, in which the player gets immediately cast as a long-slumbering Link, without any sort of exposition. The character has no memory, and only wakes up from his ressurection chamber following a mysterious voice echoing in his head.

    The first moments of the game are spent exploring the Great Plateau, a location in central Hyrule that serves as an introduction to the game's main mechanics. However, after you're able to exit the Plateau thanks to your paraglider and tablet-like sheikah slate, you can go anywhere you please, including straight to the ruins of Hyrule Castle, where Calamity Ganon, the entitity who brought the world to ruin 100 years ago, waits. For a series that has become heavy on hand-holding, things are off to a great start.

    The astounding level of freedom given to the player is only possible thanks to Link's game-changing ability to climb almost any surface. Previous Zelda titles would separate areas of the game by throwing unpassable mountains between them; here, each mountain is simply a new invitation to explore. The full-fledged physics engine, meanwhile, makes traversing each area even more addictive, as things just click together in a very organic way.

    As someone who loves seamless exploration, I can get frustrated by intrusive story-heavy sections, all-too-common in releases nowadays. Breath of the Wild eschews this approach in a genius way: Link is soon able to recover several pictures in his sheikah slate, apparantly taken by Princess Zelda before the calamity. By finding the spots in those pictures, he can recover his memory piece by piece. This makes the story essentially a collectible, to be experienced according to the player's investigation skills, and one of the many reasons to thoroughly explore the world.

    The game's Hyrule is a character unto itself: a post-apocaliptic world with signs of war and destruction at every corner, but which manages to also be extremely inviting in its pastoral beauty. Scattered over 15 seamlessly-connected, sprawling regions are plenty of ruins, but also towns, stables, landmarks, quirky characters, enemy camps, and (of course) a large number of secrets to uncover. Curiosity is always rewarded, sometimes with weapons or smaller collectibles, sometimes with large boss-like enemies or shrines.

    Oh yeah, the shrines. You see, one of the longest-running Zelda traditions are its dungeons. You'd get to them (usually in linear order), solve their puzzles, collect treasure (including the special items needed to complete them), and beat the boss at the end.

    Breath of the Wild, however, completely reimagines how this works. There are 120 shrines to find, and those are like bite-sized dungeons with puzzles and treasure chests. At the end of each of them, you get a spirit orb, needed to permanently increase energy and stamina. I'm of the mind that some Zelda titles can overdo dungeons, making them interminable sections of puzzle after puzzle in which I'm unable to even save and continue from where I stopped; for that reason, this new approach was a huge breath of fresh air. It also helps that the puzzles here are modular: many of them have several possible solutions, depending on how creative you want to get.

    Of course, dungeons had an imponence that smaller shrines just can't match. This is where the actual stand-in for dungeons come into play. There are four of them, and they are probably the most epic thing I've seen in any Zelda game, ever. They have some key differences from traditional dungeons in how they work: each is one giant puzzle you need to solve progressively, and the ingenuity of their interconnected designs made me feel like an engineer at times for mastering them.

    Speaking of story, this is a series-best. The melancholy of a devastated Hyrule can make each memory you recover extremely bittersweet, as you meet the champions that were supposed to fight the calamity, each with their own particular relationship with Link, and delve into the most well-developed Princess Zelda character we've ever been graced with.

    it's weird to admit it, but Breath of the Wild single-handedly makes the entire catalogue of previous 3D Zelda games somewhat obsolete. Going back to the old approach would mean abandoning the extreme sense of freedom that pushes this game so much above everything else that's out right now. Either under the lens of the Zelda series, the open world genre, or gaming as an art form, Breath of the Wild is nothing short of a masterpiece.    … Expand
  29. JohnWitten
    Apr 30, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [Portion of the Full Review]

    For such an impressive and massive exploration of game design and creation, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is truly a testament to Nintendo’s commitment to quality experiences in perhaps what is their greatest series ever. There are a few technical issues at times and yet for the life of me I can think of no other detriments to the overall experience that Breath of the Wild offers- which is truly astounding in such a large game, as the majority of even the most finely tuned experiences such as The Witcher 3 have had their fair share of dramatic bugs and glitches over the years. All things said and done, where you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer altogether, if you have a Wii U or perhaps the Nintendo Switch, I implore you to give this game a whirl as it’s a truly unforgettable and worthwhile experience like none other. It’s way too soon to tell for certain, but compared to even the greatest iterations of the series, Breath of the Wild will be remembered fondly.

    Concept: Meld traditional elements of The Legend of Zelda series into a truly open world design that tasks players not only with survival but exploration for the sake of progressing through the experience.

    Graphics: It is not the gritty experience that Twilight Princess was in its more realistic art direction and yet Breath of the Wild’s design is flawless and fits perfectly with the tones present throughout the narrative.

    Sound: From nature’s call to the subtle yet fitting melodies that ramp up with each new discovery and encounter, the themes are slightly different from past soundtracks in the series and yet they work just as well.

    Playability: Forget past issues with motion control and sometimes finicky elements on the Wii and Wii U, as far as I am concerned the mechanics and controls handle better than they ever have before.

    Entertainment: Whether you choose to mix story and side elements or pursue one solely over the other, Breath of the Wild is a thrilling and compelling experience and one that you will surely remember for a long time to come.

    Replay Value: High.

    Overall Score: 9.75    … Expand
  30. Berrlett
    Aug 21, 2018
    9
    This is simply a brilliant Zelda, the type every Zelda fan was hoping for. The world is magical and full of stories and adventures, playing it on WiiU rather than the Switch and still getting a max enjoyment out of it. I love the fighting and weapon management as well as the inventory. Worth every penny even though I got it heavily reduced for the WiiU.
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Awards & Rankings

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#1 Best Wii U Game of 2017
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#1 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2017
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#1 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Video Chums
    Apr 10, 2017
    91
    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an absolute joy to play as it's an undeniably rewarding adventure set in a deeply immersive world. Although the experience is weighed down by a few minor problems, the overall journey is one that no gamer will soon forget.
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  2. AusGamers
    Mar 28, 2017
    92
    Breath of the Wild can’t be compared to the likes of The Witcher 3 or Skyrim because it’s not trying to be those games -- it’s a Nintendo game -- and series -- all grown up. It has a lot to offer and will keep you engaged for lengthy periods of time. If you’re playing on Switch as you absolutely should be, then you can also Zelda wherever you go. It’s arguably not the best Zelda game, but damn, it might be the most polished, and the most ambitious.
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  3. DarkStation
    Mar 20, 2017
    100
    Does it have the best combat system in the world? No. Is it the best looking game out there? No. Does it have the best RPG soundtrack ever? No. Can the game make you feel like you are eight years old again? Hell yes. It certainly had that effect with me. It has been a long time since exploring, fighting, and adventuring has so consistently brought a smile to my face. Breath of the Wild is such a wonderful experience that once you play it, you will likely never look at open world games the same again.
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