What I know (more than usual, but mostly shallow):
- I actually played a little bit back when I got the game. I got a few toys, but never got off Noob Mesa. I got shot by a laser near one of the shrines, decided that was enough for the night, and never got back into it. I’ve watched my sister play a little more; the main takeaway I have from this is who Link’s friend on Noob Mesa is.
- It was originally developed for the Wii U, but by time it was ready to release the Wii U was a dead console so it was held and revamped as a Switch launch title. (Also dual-released on the Wii U, but I’m playing on the Switch. (Even though I’m fairly certain the Sheikah Slate was envisioned as an in-game stand in for the Wii U gamepad. In other words: I played the GameCube version of Twilight Princess so I could delay having to deal with motion controls more than original development intent.))
- Timeline placement: Ha… ha ha ha… BWAHAHAHAHA! It’s in Classic Hyrule, not the Wind Waker branch’s New Hyrule (one of the first features... featured is the Temple of Time, looking straight out of Ocarina; also, no trains), but we’ve got Koroks and (I think, but I know there are Zoras…) Rito, who only ever appeared in that timeline, back, so… yeah. Whatever timeline branch it’s in, it’s long after all the other games. Hyrule is post-apocalyptic.
- Link has a tablet computer called the Sheikah Slate.
- The game’s gone super open and structure-free. Once you get off Noob Mesa, it’s like, “Oh, you want to take on Ganon now? Thataway. Have fun storming the castle.” (“Think it’ll work?” “It would take a miracle.”)
- Instead of proper dungeons, there are a hundred (!) microdungeons that give collectibles that can be redeemed for heart containers or stamina upgrades. The monks at the end of these microdungeons look like mummified… half-Yoda half-Gollum things.
- Koroks are back, and collecting their seeds is a big deal, and there’s a thousand (!!) of them.
- Lynels make their 3D debut and… they’ve never not been able to stomp an unprepared Link, but my understanding is they’re on a whole new level.
- Link can cook food (both good and… not).
- Weapons and items have been completely revamped; the Master Sword’s been somewhat deemphasized and there’s no main weapon to replace it, and weapons (aside from the Master Sword) break.
- amiibo! I’ve got a few Zelda amiibo (Link’s Awakening Link, the Wolf Link/Midna one that came with the Wii U Twilight Princess, and Smash Bros. Link, Zelda, and Sheik) and a few Smash amiibo for non-Zelda characters, although I probably won’t use those so much.
- There’s actual voiced lines, although Link remains silent as always.
- Names I know: Mipha, Paya, Sidon, Urbosa. Oh, and it’s Calamity Ganon now.
Nintendo Presents
The Legend of Zelda
Breath of the Wild
Yeah, that’s all there is, in plain white text on a black background. No logo, not much music, no “enter your name” screen (I guess being able to name your Link would make voiceover a little awkward). The screen remains dark, with a small lit area in the center as a female voice repeatedly calls, “Open your eyes.” As Link starts to come to, the voice becomes clearer and adds, “Wake up, Link.”
Link’s sleeping in some kind of pool or tub that drains as he wakes up. That pool’s in a cave with weird lights, and there’s a pedestal the camera lingers on. Link runs over to check it out, and the thing makes a big display of popping up a small tablet computer, about the size of the Wii U Gamepad or Switch. The voice from earlier chimes in, “That is a Sheikah Slate. Take it. It will help guide you after your long slumber.” As Link holds it (not above his head, sadly), a popup window says “You’ve never seen this device before, and yet… there’s something familiar about it.” In the next room, there are two chests with some basic gear so Link’s not going to have to run around in his underwear. (Also, if Link opens a chest by kicking it with his bare foot, he hops around on his other foot for a moment. Heh.) At the end of the cave, there’s another pedestal, and the voice tells Link to hold the Sheikah Slate to the pedestal, which opens the way outside. As Link shields his eyes, the voice says, “Link… you are the light – our light – that must shine upon Hyrule once again.” I don’t like this voice much, especially if it’s the obvious suspect. I can’t say why, but it just doesn’t feel right. Anyway, Link goes up stairs and climbs a wall on his way out of the cave, and looks out over Hyrule (there’s a volcano in the distance), and now the logo appears. The Master Sword has seen better days.
Next: Here’s where I’d make a “Rip van Linkle” joke, but she’s a different character.
