The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023): The Review
Overview
Tears of the Kingdom is a triumphant evolution of everything Breath of the Wild built: a masterclass in open-world design that’s not just bigger, but smarter, deeper, and wildly more creative. Nintendo took the blueprint of a modern classic and said, “Let’s break every rule again.” With jaw-dropping sky islands, mysterious underground depths, and a suite of game-changing new abilities, TotK gives players more freedom than ever to experiment, build, explore, and shape their own adventure.
Score: 10 out of 10
The Positives ✅
Tears of the Kingdom doesn’t just follow in the footsteps of Breath of the Wild, it takes everything that worked and expands it to absurdly satisfying levels. The sense of freedom is staggering. Hyrule itself, the Depths below, and the Sky Islands above feel alive, each layer offering new mechanics, secrets, and ways to engage. Exploration isn’t just encouraged, it’s rewarded constantly. NPCs, enemies, treasures, and environmental puzzles are scattered in a way that makes every turn feel like it could lead to a small story or challenge, and the world never feels empty. Even the smallest encounters, like a wandering merchant, a fashion-obsessed NPC hunting for rare outfits, or Captain Hoz and his crew, can spark hours of new, often hilarious or inventive gameplay. It’s the kind of organic, free-flowing side content that makes the world feel lived-in, and it keeps you discovering surprises long after you’ve started your adventure.
The new abilities Link gains elevate gameplay from clever to outright genius. Ultrahand allows for moving objects and building whatever your imagination can dream up, while Fuse lets you combine weapons in creative and often ridiculous ways. Ascend lets you phase through ceilings for effortless climbing, and Recall can rewind objects: rocks, arrows, or falling obstacles, to solve puzzles or wreak havoc in combat. The way these powers interact with each other and the environment is endlessly inventive. You can make vehicles, skateboards, flying contraptions, or combine weapons for devastating effects, and figuring out these combos becomes a joy in itself. Even the simplest encounters can turn into memorable moments when you experiment, like destroying a giant walking rock by using falling debris and Recall in clever ways.
Side content isn’t just filler, it’s where Tears of the Kingdom truly shines. Collecting Korok Seeds, completing Shrines, conquering Skyview Towers, or finishing the Hyrule Compendium all feel meaningful because the systems themselves are satisfying to engage with. The sheer variety of challenges ensures you’re never stuck doing the same thing twice. Even mundane tasks, like helping NPCs or retrieving lost items, are presented in ways that feel natural, woven seamlessly into the world rather than tacked on. There’s a freedom to how you tackle these objectives that feels reminiscent of games like Elden Ring, but with a more accessible and playful spirit, making exploration feel both epic and personal.
Graphically, the game has aged like fine wine. The soft, painterly art style blends realism and anime influences to make Hyrule breathtaking, whether you’re gazing across expansive plains, gliding between Sky Islands, or descending into the mysterious Depths. The render distance and environmental design support a sense of true scale, and the world’s verticality is handled brilliantly, everything looks reachable, and the thrill of figuring out how to get somewhere adds to the adventure. The soundtrack complements this perfectly. Peaceful, reflective music fills exploration, while drums, horns, and tense compositions make combat and critical moments feel exhilarating. The English voice acting is solid, giving personality to the characters without ever overwhelming the experience, and even minor quirks, like Zelda’s understated delivery, fit the world naturally.
Finally, the main joy of Tears of the Kingdom is the sense of experimentation and agency. You’re never restricted to one solution, one path, or one playstyle. Whether you’re gliding with the Zonai Bird Glider, building custom vehicles, combining abilities for absurd combat strategies, or just wandering off to see what’s out there, the game rewards creativity and curiosity at every step. The open-ended freedom isn’t just a gimmick, it’s a core part of the fun, turning every player into a little inventor, strategist, or explorer. There’s an almost infinite sense of possibility, and it makes every session feel fresh, no matter how many hours you’ve logged. Tears of the Kingdom isn’t just a game, it’s a playground, a puzzle, and a story that unfolds at your pace, and it does everything it sets out to do with flair, polish, and genius.
The Negatives ⚠️
The main quest, while packed with dungeons and encounters, doesn’t feel substantially longer than Breath of the Wild, which can leave a sense of “I wish this story went further.” The game’s massive scope can also be overwhelming for some players. With so many sidequests, collectibles, and hidden secrets, it’s easy to feel lost or unsure where to focus your energy. Even small things, like Princess Zelda’s voice acting, occasionally pull you out of the immersion, though it’s minor in the grand scheme of the game.
Some systems might feel complex at first, and players new to Zelda’s open-world style could find the sheer freedom daunting. While the main quest offers structure, the game’s strength is in the emergent side content, which means that rushing through the story could lead to missing out on a lot of the fun. It’s a world that rewards curiosity, but it asks for patience, and that might not sit well with everyone.
The Experience 🎮
Playing Tears of the Kingdom is a constant sense of discovery and wonder. You never quite know what’s around the next corner: a lightning-wielding enemy, a quirky NPC quest, or a strange environmental puzzle can spring up at any moment. Exploring Hyrule feels like a sandbox filled with surprises, and the freedom to approach challenges your own way makes every encounter feel personal. It’s that “aha” moment when you combine abilities in unexpected ways or stumble upon a secret area that makes the game so memorable.
The joy comes from experimentation. Whether you’re fusing weapons together, rewinding falling objects with Recall, or building inventive vehicles, the game encourages you to play with the world as much as through it. It’s an adventure that rewards curiosity and creativity, making even small detours feel meaningful. At the end of the day, Tears of the Kingdom is a game that doesn’t just ask you to explore, it makes you want to, and every session leaves you itching to see what’s next.
Comments
Post a Comment