Breath of the Wild is still a classic Zelda even though the sequel is out

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a fantastic game and after playing through it completely you might be tempted to say it’s invalid The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Why play through the first iteration of this particular Hyrule when there is this new remix version? They have many of the same landmarks, characters, and enemies, however tears features more villains, the depths, the sky islands, and the ability to create massive war machines.

To that I ask: Why do we have to let two strong queens fight? Both games are better for the other existing and Tears of the Kingdom wouldn’t be nearly as good if I hadn’t spent so much time in it breath of the wild.

I picked up Tears of the Kingdom At launch, I was determined not to experience even a little FOMO. But I strayed from the game and muddled through the tutorial islands. When I landed at Lookout Landing I could see a whole world out there to explore, but I didn’t really feel like it. Ultrahand felt awkward and nervous, it was weird that everyone was so happy to see me even though I had no idea who they were, and my greatest achievement was fusing a stick with another stick.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo

So I went back to breath of the wild. After just a few hours I had done my homework and could have continued straight away tears. I originally played breath of the wild at the start and was still about halfway through the game; I had served my time. Instead, I was intrigued. I stayed here, slew all four divine beasts, completed the mastery exams, and found a huge horse. Only then did I return Tears of the Kingdomand i had a lot of fun.

You’d think I’d had enough of Zelda thanks to all of this Breath-ing but jump instead tears felt more like graduation. I’ve seen all my friends grow up, start families, or achieve great things. Arriving at Lookout Landing felt like a real homecoming and I was happy to meet characters like Purah and Sidon again. Losing the Master Sword during the dramatic opening felt all the worse – I’d just spent hours testing to get this sucker back on track!

I also didn’t take part in any of these korok tortures – not for me, thanks! You see, not only am I a moral person, but I also remember the lovely Koroks at the Lost Woods selling supplies and letting me sleep in their little tree inn for free.

Each game can stand on its own. Zelda’s emotional journey captured in the memories Link finds everywhere breath of the wild, is a full arc. There are no “to be continued” or cliffhangers. Similar, Tears of the Kingdom has its own story arc told through flashbacks that focus on Hyrule’s distant past. Despite all the similarities, each title feels like a distinct experience.

Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo

It’s also interesting to see how Nintendo has changed the same familiar locations with just a few small changes. The Great Plateau transformed from a tutorial zone into a dangerous land filled with Yiga Ninjas and greedy Dark Hands. Hateno Village is now a burgeoning fashion capital and Hyrule Castle is in the bloody sky.

breath of the wild is definitely a simpler and more reduced version of the formula, and Tears of the Kingdom builds on it excellently. But simpler is not worse; Instead, I can see myself playing both games in the years to come. I grew up playing games The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a game in which Link travels between two different time periods. The jump in between breath of the wild And Tears of the Kingdom feels similar and I don’t think the old Hyrule has been outdated by the new.

Over time, like Tears of the Kingdom As the game settles into the lineup and players have time to digest all of its twists and turns, I think we’ll likely see people defending it breath of the wild. There’s a simplicity in it that really shines Tears of the Kingdom can feel a bit fiddly in comparison. The Zonai tools offer great power, but the different currencies and upgrades can mess up the game a bit.

There is no need to throw breath of the wild in the bin; Tears of the Kingdom is a fantastic experience that doesn’t invalidate its predecessor. Playing both is the best experience and I can’t imagine a world where that would be the case Tears of the Kingdom could be so ambitious if breath of the wild had not paved such a path by its own excellent design.