It’s not often that a launch game is played and regularly discussed beyond a new console’s first year, as first adopters are typically willing to lower their expectations for new games when the library of console exclusive titles is at its smallest. And yet, the latest mainline entry in The Legend of Zelda series has managed to remain relevant over six years later, with the acclaimed open world game not only making multiple appearances in ourBest Games of the Decadelist from 2020, but also still providing active players with a huge playground in which to pull off new incredible tricks and stunts that regularly amaze the internet. Whether players are fully ignoring shrine puzzles and bypassing barriers by leaping off a floating chest, using a pair of rocks and Link’s magnesis ability to form a new method of traversal, or backflipping on a motorcycle andshooting three guardians at once with an explosive arrow while in mid-air(yes, really), there seems to be no end to the truly wild highlights players can create using Breath of the Wild’s unique mechanics.
While there will likely still remain a dedicated fanbase for the Switch launch game, one could likely expect most of those players to shift to the upcoming sequel when it comes out next month. Firstannouncedback at E3 2019 as an untitled Breath of the Wild sequel before it was finally given its subtitle,Tears of the Kingdom, last year, the long-awaited next mainline entry in The Legend of Zelda series will largely utilize the same Hyrule map that was featured in the original game, but the darker tone of the new game will likely result in some unexpected changes to familiar locations. Plus, floating islands have now been spotted above Hyrule, with new enemies patrolling them and leaving Link with no easy way to reach them. Fortunately, this is where some of Link’s new runes will come in handy, as shown off by series producer Eiji Aonuma in a recentgameplay demonstration. By using Recall, players will be able to rewind the path of an object, such as a falling stone that will now lift Link up to the skies above. Plus, Link can also Ascend through ceilings to quickly reach higher points, although it remains to be seen if there’s a high enough point on the Hyrule grounds that will allow Link to Ascend to a nearby floating island.
Perhaps the most exciting new mechanics shown off during the gameplay presentation are Fuse and Ultrahand. Fuse will enable players to stick two objects together to create new weapons, such as a stick and boulder to form a hammer-like weapon or a sword and shield to create an all-in-one offensive and defensive tool for your arsenal. Meanwhile, Ultrahand will also combine multiple objects to one another, but can be used for a much wider variety of purposes outside of combat. It’s initially utilized in the aforementioned gameplay video to create a makeshift raft and traverse a river, but thenewest traileralso showcases just some of the unique contraptions Link will be able to make, such as a horse-pulled cart, ride-on glider and even a bizarre-looking mech constructed out of stones and wheels with Link controlling it from on top. Even going back to past trailers, eager fans have spotted hovercrafts, hot air balloons and flying boats that show that Nintendo was hinting at Link’s new abilities for a while now.
Even without some of these game-changing abilities, Tears of the Kingdom already seemed positioned to please longtime The Legend of Zelda fans or those who were enamored by the freedom offered by Breath of the Wild. But the development team was clearly paying attention to some of the viral clips that pushed the original game from a beloved open world RPG to a time-defying masterpiece, and have now spent years creating even more ways for players to express their creativity using these new in-game mechanics. As such, even with all of the fused contraptions Nintendo has shown off so far, it seems like we have barely even scratched the surface for the wild experiments that players will imagine and attempt to pull off once they finally get this game in their hands. If Nintendo can ensure the technical stability of the game despite the dated hardware and all of these seemingly limit-breaking mechanics, then Tears of the Kingdom could be poised to dominate video game conversations and social media clips for years to come much like its predecessor. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to launch on May 12 for Switch.
