Me and Games:
It's been a while since the last time I played a Zelda game. The last Zelda game that I played in recent years was Zelda: A Link between two worlds on the 3DS. It was an amazing game. It brought the thrills and nostalgia of a Zelda game, yet it felt fresh and familiar at the same time.
Now, I just received my own copy of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Wii U. I picked the Wii U version because I own the console. Also I am not a fan of playing it on game pads. I like my controllers to be small, so I am using game controller pro.
I am yet to grab a Nintendo Switch. It seems that I will wait for a bit longer before getting it. There are not enough good games for it. In addition, it is not available in the stores right now. Also, I do not have enough time to play video games these days.
I used to play games all the time during my childhood. I kept playing games until I got to college when things changed a bit. When I got into college, the first two years, I was bad at time management and thus had little time for hobbies including video games. In addition to this, I picked up new hobbies such as hanging out with new people. Not just this, but school was just taking so much out of my time that I had little time for myself. After the second year, I figured out how school works and managed my time well. I had time for video games and pretty much everything else.
In any case, let us get into the New Zelda game. Just to let you know, I am just few hours into the game, but I completely sucked in.
The Feel of a Zelda game:
The game looks different than any Zelda game that I played before. The Hyrule is now an open world that you can explore in any form of shape that you like. It is a departure from older Zelda games, in which you had a bit of freedom to explore, but in a much liner way. Still, there are places that are off limit. You need to obtain special items to get to them.
You will find many similarities between this game and older Zelda games in some elements such as weapons, Dungeons, and puzzles. You still have bombs arrows, and swords.
Hyrule is still similar as before, but now, it is much more expansive and huge. It feels much more realistic. For example, now when you get close to a mountain, you climb on it like a real elevated landscape. Unlike Zelda Ocarina of time in which the mountain has a liner path you go through.
What is Different now:
The first thing you will notice is the voice over. Now there is a narrative voice that adds a little depth to the game.
Second, you will notice is the futuristic feel to it. The neon colours, and the mechanical devices. The game has many places that look futuristic because the locations uses some ancient technology. You will see the bright neon light around the dungeons which is really pretty.
Is it worth it?
Yes. Unlike Zelda Skyward Swords, I find myself completely immersed in the game. I can't put the controller down. I want to play a little bit more and explore the next dungeon. Just like Zelda: Ocarina of time, everything feels fresh and exciting. The graphics, the sounds, and characters and the gameplay.
I feel that Nintendo did the right thing when it decided to make the game the way it is now. Nintendo kept older elements from older Zelda games, but changed pretty much everything else.
My advice, don't get the Nintendo Switch version, get the Wii U version why? because it is going to be collectable. With the Nintendo ending the Wii U production and it is getting much rarer to find these days. I think the Wii U version will also be printed in limited quantities. Thus it will fetch much higher price in the near future.
Aside from predicting the future, the game is great when played with the wii U pro controller.