March 3rd, 2017: The Switch Arrives

My roommate walked into Gamestop and waited in line behind 3 people. Each was told that there were no more Switches available. Unlike those people, my friend had preordered his console. Where they had failed, he returned home triumphant. An avid Zelda fan, the only game he bought was Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

A lot of people have said a lot of good things about this game without having seen or played it first. Despite all of the hype, I've kept my expectations low. I haven't considered myself a Zelda fan in years. Nearly every game since Ocarina of Time has been a disappointment.

released Nov, 1998

Right off the bat, I can tell this game will be compared to The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Minecraft. The game begins with you awakening from a long slumber, exiting your cave into a sprawling world. You are immediately pointed towards a main quest, but have the complete freedom to wander off and do other junk at your leisure. Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 both have a near identical setup, though in those games, I had to put up with more cut-scenes and boring characters.

yawn

This is a big departure from previous Zelda games. In Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword, you started out in a town and had to talk to annoying characters before you could get a sword and stab monsters in the face. The opening of this game reminds more of the original Legend of Zelda, where you immediately start out in an open world and can go anywhere. The only character you were likely to talk to early on was the old man in the cave. Similarly, this game has an old man who helps you figure out what you can do.

Things I like: Everything is vibrant and colorful. There are lots of weapons you can use right off the bat. Also, there aren't very many load screens. Everything just happens quickly. Voice acting is kept to a minimum.
Things I dislike: The music is lacking. Like many open-world games, the music kicks in when you're fighting, but in between combat, there's just environmental sounds. Also, in the beginning area there aren't many fun enemies. They're all just target practice. The iconic green tunic and hat are available in the game, but not immediately.

This game is interesting. My friend is content with burning grass, hunting fish and birds, and killing weak enemies. Once I get the chance to play, I'll likely have a different experience. I doubt it's a classic like the original or Ocarina of Time, but it's nice to see a Zelda game I actually want to play.