E3 2016 | "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"
In the realm of fantasy adventures, no franchise reigns quite as mighty as The Legend of Zelda. This was evident on the final day of E3 2016, where people waiting outside the convention halls probably since the crack of dawn to play the latest -- and possibly biggest -- Zelda game ever conceived: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Two hours after waiting in line and a 30-minute demo later it was apparent that Nintendo is about to make jaws drop.
Before diving into the actual story I was given the chance to roam around and test out the scheme of things. With this I was able to dive into some battles, find some treasures, and basically see what kind of turmoil I could throw Link into before he ran out of steam. The addition of jumping mechanics -- a first in the Zelda universe, which is kind of a shocker -- also gave way to new ways the Hero of Time could reach new heights and areas via leaping and climbing.
It was during this period when I decided to take a bit of a peak of what the map layout was like. While most of it was blacked out so as to not worry about spoilers, what was shown is bound to put a game like The Witcher III to shame. It's huge, to put it bluntly. As the rumors have said: Breath of the Wild is Zelda's answer to Skyrim, and if the game has this much to showcase you can expect a very long and fruitful journey with Link.
After the first part of the demo, the opportunity to play the game's opening was presented. Link wakes up from a resurrection chamber, where he has been in slumber for over a hundred years. Upon waking up you find your clothes and a mysterious object known as the Sheikah Slate you walk out into the bright and vast world of Hyrule. Via the slate you are brought to a control panel, which ignites a few tall towers across the way. And it's that moment when Link's latest adventure will truly begin.
Calling this the ultimate Zelda adventure would be considered an understatement. Its gorgeous anime-inspired visuals showcase a world that looks as if it could go on forever. What's more, the added objectives of having to craft and save your weaponry adds another level of strategy to Link's forte. Breath of the Wild doesn't just bring something new to the table; it replaces said table with a nicely-handcrafted work of culinary furniture.
Wherever one may plan to play it -- be it the Wii U or the Nintendo NX -- what awaits could very well be one of the most ambitious and awe-inspiring games that Nintendo has ever unleashed to the game world. Rest assured that when this game is released, there will be many Zelda fans new and old that'll have their breath taken away by Link and Zelda's bold & beautiful enchantment.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild hits the Wii U and Nintendo NX in 2017.
