Thoughts on Breath of the Wild
A video game has not made me feel this way in a long time.
I’ve played some impactful games over the past couple years. But none have touched me in the way this game has.
The feeling harkens back to my Link’s Awakening, my very first Zelda game.
LADX was a formative experience for me. Up to that point, my perspective of video games was comprised of sidescrolling action and platforming games. LADX introduced me to the concepts of story, freedom, and exploration. To my approximately-10-year-old self, this was the largest adventure I had ever embarked on. The world felt so huge and full of secrets. And it was, considering the hardware it ran on. It took me somewhere no other game had. And it took a long time to finish. For a while, I remember being stuck after the first dungeon, and just replaying that first part over and over. Because I loved this world so much.
Breath of the Wild takes me to a similar place. It’s the first 3D Zelda that has truly connected with me.
Anyone who grew up playing games can point to one that really resonated with them. For some, it might be another Zelda title. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. But that game sticks with you, because it had an impression on you during your formative years. LADX was definitely that game, for me.
When you grow up, playing games isn’t always the same. Some might touch you in ways others don’t, but it’s rare that something comes close to that first special game. Your adult brain isn’t as easily blown away by these experiences. But every once and a while, you capture a glimpse of it.
Breath of the Wild took me somewhere I haven’t been in a while. Maybe technology and the art of game development have progressed enough to instill wonder in my dumb adult head. This is my first open-world game, or any game of this sheer magnitude. There are no walkthroughs on the internet yet. There are so many secrets to discover. The massive world feels dense and lived-in. There’s always a reason to take a detour and explore. And it’s genuinely fun to do, because the game is so dang polished. Its systems come together in unexpected and delightful ways.
I’m in love with this game, this beautiful world. And I can’t wait to see what other surprises it holds.
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