It's like random bits and pieces of the last 13 years of open world games. Not all the best bits, just random bits, good and bad.
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Era, sell me on BOTW
- Thread starter Alanood
- Start date
Yeah man, I don't agree at all. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Something about Wind Waker just adores me, I love revisiting the game every few years.
I find Wind Waker's bosses to be extremely memorable, even 15 years after I first touched the game, so definitely don't agree with you on the forgettable point.
I will admit that I've always loved easy games though, I abhor playing games as a challenge (currently playing through Spiderman on the easiest difficulty, love how powerful I feel!). The real world is hard enough, I just want to jump into gorgeous games and escape, so Wind Waker being easy is a massive plus for me. BOTW's bosses being extremely similar visually was a massive, massive disappointment to me. I don't give a shit how "hard" they were (they weren't) when at the end of the day they're forgettable and incredibly lazy nearly cut/paste designs.
It's clear that BOTW appealed to you because it's a great open world game, whereas I significantly prefer more narrative focused and carrot-on-a-stick gameplay experiences, so I wasn't as big a fan of it. Glad you liked it though!
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The weapon durability mechanic was one of the big things that turned me off in regards to this one. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I didn't have to worry about that cool new weapon breaking in ten minutes.
To quote a friend of mine: "I just played seven hours of Breath of the Wild and I have no idea if I got anything done or not."
It is a big warm blanket of a game, wrap yourself in it. Enjoy exploring a stark yet cozy open world that really wants you to stretch your legs and experiment with the mechanics instead of just furiously working through a checklist.
It is a big warm blanket of a game, wrap yourself in it. Enjoy exploring a stark yet cozy open world that really wants you to stretch your legs and experiment with the mechanics instead of just furiously working through a checklist.
That's is just a bug.. if we talk about removing games from the GOAT conversation.. well BOTW has no memorable story and is extremelty repetitive.. the combat is just basic and you can define the game as a survival experience with the name Zelda on it.
Take away the name Zelda from the game.. use another main character and the reviews would be closer to the 7 instead of 10's or 9's.
I kind of hated the Witcher 3.
I played BOTW before the Witcher 3 and actually just wrapped the Witcher 3 expansion a few days ago.
BOTW seems to respect the players intelligence and I feel like things just make sense in the games world in ways that may surprise you.
I hated the ubisoft influence on the Witcher 3 , but loved what BotW does with it because it takes the "hey explore this map" thing but doesn't really tell you a direction to go. You just find that yourself.
I played BOTW before the Witcher 3 and actually just wrapped the Witcher 3 expansion a few days ago.
BOTW seems to respect the players intelligence and I feel like things just make sense in the games world in ways that may surprise you.
I hated the ubisoft influence on the Witcher 3 , but loved what BotW does with it because it takes the "hey explore this map" thing but doesn't really tell you a direction to go. You just find that yourself.
My favorite game of 2017. Played through it twice, first on Wii U and then on Switch. I could see myself doing it again before BOTW2 drops. For what it's worth, this is what I usually share whenever these threads come up:
The game world gives me a sense of place and being like no other. It could be half the size or twice the size and I don't think my opinion would change, because everything is so harmonious and deliberately about the player's curiosity and desire to explore and discover. Moving through the world between each beat gives me time to reflect on what I've done, or to take a moment to appreciate the way the sun glistens off of each blade of grass, or to look up into the sky and see birds flying off into the distance.
This Roger Ebert/Hayao Miyazaki interview from 2002 really captures how BOTW nails this:
Entire interview here: http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/hayao-miyazaki-interview
If every moment in BOTW was compressed and nonstop one after the other like so many other open-worlders, you'd be left with a pretty tiring game. It's the moments between that contribute greatly to what makes this game special and memorable.
It's a hard thing to unlearn, which is why it makes me sad when people say that Studio Ghibli films are slow and boring to them.
The game world gives me a sense of place and being like no other. It could be half the size or twice the size and I don't think my opinion would change, because everything is so harmonious and deliberately about the player's curiosity and desire to explore and discover. Moving through the world between each beat gives me time to reflect on what I've done, or to take a moment to appreciate the way the sun glistens off of each blade of grass, or to look up into the sky and see birds flying off into the distance.
This Roger Ebert/Hayao Miyazaki interview from 2002 really captures how BOTW nails this:
Entire interview here: http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/hayao-miyazaki-interview
If every moment in BOTW was compressed and nonstop one after the other like so many other open-worlders, you'd be left with a pretty tiring game. It's the moments between that contribute greatly to what makes this game special and memorable.
It's a hard thing to unlearn, which is why it makes me sad when people say that Studio Ghibli films are slow and boring to them.
I've been watching the discourse about the game play out for 2 years now, and not once have I come across a good argument for the system being the way it is.
If you like adventurous exploration that doesnt hold your hand at all,if you like a huge and unique handcrafted open world map, if you like approaching combat scenarios and obstacles in multiple ways and generally if you want an epic adventure,this is the game for you
Whether you love BotW or hate it, I guarantee you most people are at least glad they experienced it. So yeah, play it. Maybe you'll love it, maybe you won't. But play it.
It's one of the most disappointing sequels I've ever played as a huge fan of the Zelda series. It has it's moments... The beginning and ending are amazing, with moments of brilliance in between. But man, what a slog of a game. Weak ass main dungeons with lame boss battles. Barely any story. Hit or miss shrines. Terrible weapon degradation system. Pathetic enemy variety. Huge world with vast expanses of nothingness. Awful rewards for clearing enemy strongholds. Underwhelming minigames. I'd rather play Skyward Sword, which was a legit great game with purposeful and focused design, 10 times over than touch BotW again. Lets hope the sequel improves on all it's shortcomings.
What I liked about the game was that it was truly open after the initial tutorial section, The Great Plateau. It really respects the player's time and allows you to play as slowly or quickly as you want. While the game isn't very story-driven, the various characters that are part of the story are done pretty well. It has really cool physics and elements systems that can make for some creative scenarios. There aren't traditional dungeons like previous Zelda games. In its place are over a hundred puzzle rooms that can range from 5-15 minute completion time and can be done in any order. There are a few "dungeons" with boss fights that are tied to the story and can also be done in any order. You can go straight to the end game within the first 1-2hrs of starting the game if you want too, though it will be difficult.
There's also this extremely satisfying combat mechanic:
There's also this extremely satisfying combat mechanic:
It's a great game, well worth your time.
Not sure how it ranks with the other Zelda games since it was my first and so far the only Zelda game I played.
Not sure how it ranks with the other Zelda games since it was my first and so far the only Zelda game I played.
how about buying it and giving it a shot? decide for yourself. if you don't like it then trade it in. i'm sure you can get a copy for a reasonable price.
it's an open world with little hand holding and that requires some thinking to solve many puzzles. it's not really comparable to The Witcher 3 which has you running around for quest markers, listening to people talk, and is much heavier story wise. there is a story to BOTW but told through flashbacks and dialogue. there are cutscenes but no where near the amount in Witcher. also depending on how you want to play BOTW isn't as long. but if you want it to last then you can take your time. I beat the entirety of Witcher 3 in about 150 hours. You can finish BOTW in about 50 hours or if you take your time about 100. if you want to do absolutely everything it can take up to about 200 hours.
i've been playing it since it launched and just can't get enough of it. one of the best games ever made imo.
it's an open world with little hand holding and that requires some thinking to solve many puzzles. it's not really comparable to The Witcher 3 which has you running around for quest markers, listening to people talk, and is much heavier story wise. there is a story to BOTW but told through flashbacks and dialogue. there are cutscenes but no where near the amount in Witcher. also depending on how you want to play BOTW isn't as long. but if you want it to last then you can take your time. I beat the entirety of Witcher 3 in about 150 hours. You can finish BOTW in about 50 hours or if you take your time about 100. if you want to do absolutely everything it can take up to about 200 hours.
i've been playing it since it launched and just can't get enough of it. one of the best games ever made imo.
This review is pretty exhaustive, probably a little bit too much for someone who just wants a push to know if they should buy the game, but I haven't seen a better review than this and it should definitely have everything you need to decide one way or the other:
I've just bought a Switch and started BOTW today. Seems OK, not seeing why everyone thinks it's the best game ever, not yet at least.
I hate that characters aren't voiced and the story seems a bit generic so far.
The physics based systems seem like the cool part but I've only been to the introductory dungeons so far.
Stamina is annoying but I'll get used to it. Combat sucks but I put that down to the joycons being too small and button mapping feeling weird. Hopefully I get used to it. Is there a lock on system that I haven't found yet? That might help.
I hate that characters aren't voiced and the story seems a bit generic so far.
The physics based systems seem like the cool part but I've only been to the introductory dungeons so far.
Stamina is annoying but I'll get used to it. Combat sucks but I put that down to the joycons being too small and button mapping feeling weird. Hopefully I get used to it. Is there a lock on system that I haven't found yet? That might help.
I've put 125 hours into BOTW and I still have things I want to do and places on the map I wanna see. Poor Zelda is still waiting for me in her castle :'(
But definitely the game of the generation for me. What makes me love it is that apart from the opening hours you aren't given any objectives that you have to complete in any order. Also the fact that you can climb everything, which gives the game a more real 3D world instead of the more flat one compared to most other open world games. Like you can see places in the distance and be like "I can go there/I can climb that".
The story might be lacking, but the feeling of adventure isn't.
But definitely the game of the generation for me. What makes me love it is that apart from the opening hours you aren't given any objectives that you have to complete in any order. Also the fact that you can climb everything, which gives the game a more real 3D world instead of the more flat one compared to most other open world games. Like you can see places in the distance and be like "I can go there/I can climb that".
The story might be lacking, but the feeling of adventure isn't.
To say you don't like it or agree with it is fine
To say it has "no point" is simply incorrect though
I'm not nearly as crazy about BotW as others, but if you own a Switch you should check it out.
If you don't like it, trade it in. Resale value should still be good.
If you don't like it, trade it in. Resale value should still be good.
TBF if the discourse is anything like every time I've read a thread about it, you'd be hard pressed to come across a good argument for anything over the past two years.
I'm not saying it's necessarily a good system, I'm just saying it's really really bad discourse.
70 hours of gameplay is not getting bored easily lol
Anyways no, you're not going to be playing it 100s of hours if you get bored easily. You'll definitely get a lot out of it though
Anyways no, you're not going to be playing it 100s of hours if you get bored easily. You'll definitely get a lot out of it though
Probably it's the game I played the most in my whole life. More than 300 hours.
I always say it's a masterpiece but at the same time only a decent Zelda. I missed a lot of Zelda classic features, first of all it's lore
I always say it's a masterpiece but at the same time only a decent Zelda. I missed a lot of Zelda classic features, first of all it's lore
If you know The Witcher 3, you know BotW. They both até great games.
If climbing is too slow, don't climb.
The game is shaped by landmarks and the impediment of travel. The impediments are overcome as you progress(except for the rain).
BOTW does some things really good, and some things really bad, and some things just okay. The things it does well are sort of new to the conventional 3D Zelda games, and the things it does bad are many of the traditional elements from those games. So if you aren't a fan of the series you will probably like BOTW. Its still a Zelda game, but not the kind I fell in love with.
I've put 100 hours into BotW across two playthroughs.
I don't know about selling you on it, OP. But this thread is making me want to fire it up for a third playthrough.
I don't know about selling you on it, OP. But this thread is making me want to fire it up for a third playthrough.