Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are the “new format” for the series
While some fans want Zelda to go back to its classic roots, it sounds like the series will be sticking with its open format for the foreseeable future.
One of the biggest criticisms outside of weapon durability in Breath of the Wild was that it didn’t feel like it had enough of that classic Zelda feel, mostly in relation to the lack of traditional dungeons, and the open world format. While The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom definitely has some more classic style dungeons, it still has that same open world, which isn’t necessarily for everyone. But according to a new interview from Game Informer with series producer Eiji Aonuma and game director Hidemaru Fujibayashi, the open format is here to stay.
In the interview, the point of Ocarina of Time being very foundational for the Zelda series going forward, with Aonuma being asked if Breath of the Wild might act as a similar kind of blueprint for the games going forward. “With Ocarina of Time, I think it’s correct to say that it did kind of create a format for a number of titles in the franchise that came after it.” responded Aonuma.
“But in some ways, that was a little bit restricting for us. While we always aim to give the player freedoms of certain kinds, there were certain things that format didn’t really afford in giving people freedom. Of course, the series continued to evolve after Ocarina of Time, but I think it’s also fair to say now that we’ve arrived at Breath of the Wild and the new type of more open play and freedom that it affords. Yeah, I think it’s correct to say that it has created a new kind of format for the series to proceed from.”
Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom might not be for everyone, but it’s obvious that this technically not-so-new format (the first game is six years old now (sorry to give you an existential crisis) is resonating with people. After all, it is the highest rated game of all time on OpenCritic.
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Few game series are as beloved as Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda. Since the original was released in 1985, the series has kept growing and evolving to become one of gaming’s leading franchises.
The latest installments of The Legend of Zelda franchise have brought us an entirely new format: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These games offer an immersive open-world experience, unlike anything we have seen in the series before.
In Breath of the Wild, you take control of the legendary Link as he embarks on a grand quest to unravel the mystery of an ancient prophecy, travelling through a vast and beautiful world. Link must explore every corner of this open environment, solving puzzles and fighting off countless monsters, to finally restore peace to the kingdom of Hyrule. The game features an open-world design with no linear progression, and it encourages non-linear exploration, allowing players to take their own paths and experiment with its many unique tools and weapons.
On the other hand, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offers an entirely new gameplay experience. Unlike Breath of the Wild, this game has a very narrative-driven approach. It follows the story of Princess Zelda as she attempts to unravel a mysterious past in order to save her kingdom. The game mechanic allows Link to travel through time, experiencing different events from the past in order to progress the story. As a bonus, it also includes unique quests and puzzles to challenge players.
With these two new formats, Nintendo has opened the door for possibilities. These games provide a unique kind of experience, and fans are already loving them. It’s clear that the world of The Legend of Zelda will keep on evolving, and that’s what makes us so excited about these new games!
