The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017): The Review
Overview
Breath of the Wild didn’t just shake up the Zelda formula: it completely redefined what an open-world game could be. There’s a real sense of freedom here, not the usual “open world” that still funnels you down set paths. You’re encouraged to explore, try things out, and see what happens. Sometimes you find yourself climbing a mountain without a real reason, and other times you’re gliding over ruins or, by mistake, setting part of the forest on fire while fooling around with the physics. Every part of the world feels handcrafted, but never restrictive. It’s a rare mix of discovery and design that pulls you in. More than just a new Zelda, it’s a statement: one that raised the bar for the entire video game industry.
Score: 10 out of 10
The Positives ✅
Once you leave the Great Plateau, the game just lets you loose. No handholding, no invisible walls - the world’s yours to explore however you want. Hyrule is huge and full of hidden corners and stories you find just by paying attention. There’s always something surprising around the next bend.
Everything in the game reacts in a pretty logical way: fire spreads with the wind, lightning hits metal, and those little systems come together to create moments that can be clever or just plain funny. You might blow up enemies with bombs, slide down hills on your shield, or come up with strange ways to beat bosses and the game’s cool with that. The story keeps things simple and quiet, which fits the calm, massive world. The art looks like a painting come alive, with big views, weather that changes, and soft light. The music is low-key, mostly piano and gentle background sounds that make the world feel alive without ever getting in your way.
The Negatives ⚠️
The weapon durability system definitely splits opinions. Some players like how breaking weapons forces you to switch things up and adapt on the fly. Others, though, find it annoying to constantly worry about your gear falling apart. It’s one of those design choices that not everyone agrees on, but it does push you to be creative with what you’ve got.
Then there’s the dungeons, or Divine Beasts, as they call them here. They don’t have quite the same personality or depth as the classic Zelda dungeons. Some fans miss the puzzles and unique vibes that made those old dungeons memorable. The Divine Beasts feel a bit simpler and less distinct in comparison.
Finally, the story delivery is pretty sparse. There’s a lot of lore hidden throughout the world if you want to dig for it, but if you’re someone who likes lots of cutscenes or a clear, direct narrative, it might feel a bit light. The game leans more on quiet storytelling and environmental hints than on in-your-face plot moments.
The Experience 🎮
Breath of the Wild is one of the rare games that feels like a true adventure, where curiosity is your compass, and discovery is constant. It redefines what open-world design can be by trusting the player to explore, experiment, and engage with its world on their own terms. From quiet moments atop mountains to chaotic lightning battles in a storm, every inch of Hyrule tells a story. A modern masterpiece that both honors and transcends its legacy. 🌄🗡️🌀
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