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Loading... For such a successful series, Nintendo could have been forgiven for maintaining the same familiar game mechanics that have served the series well since it first made the jump to 3D over 20 years ago. Instead, they’ve torn up the rule book and, in doing so, have created a game that many are now hailing as the greatest of all time.
Breath of the Wild sees you take charge of Link in the hopes of defeating the evil Ganon. However, whereas past entries in the franchise have shuttled you from dungeon to dungeon, how you approach the game this time is entirely up to you. You can either race through each of the intricately designed dungeons, or take a more leisurely approach and spend your time building up your weapons and power ups. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities, Breath of the Wild is also the first Zelda adventure you can enjoy on your TV and on the move.
The official trailer for the Breath of the Wild showcases the sheer range of environments, characters (both familiar and new) and landscapes of Hyrule that are simply waiting to be explored. You also get a taste of the arsenal of weapons and abilities that you’ll have at your disposal.
Watch the Nintendo Minute team discuss the game and their favourite features with two of the visionaries behind it, Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma.
See four minutes of actual Breath of the Wild gameplay, covering a range of the different game mechanics including combat, cooking and more.
Right up there alongside series protagonist Link and Zelda herself, Nintendo’s trademark fantasy series has placed just as much emphasis on the setting of Hyrule Kingdom over the years. Previously, however, how you moved through it was confined by whatever established order you had to complete dungeons in. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild does away with this format, instead opting for a more open world approach in which you can explore a wondrously melancholic Hyrule at your own pace in any direction you like.
The version of Hyrule featured in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been ravaged by a traumatic event, leaving many communities isolated and living in fear of the threat that looms within Hyrule castle at the centre. Only by completing the 120 unique shrine challenges scattered around the map can you bring peace back to the land, levelling up Link to take on the evil Ganondorf and save the world of Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild might be a huge game you could easily pour 100 hours into, yet doing so never feels like a chore thanks to the Nintendo Switch’s unique hybrid capabilities. For the very first time in the franchise’s history you can step into the shoes of the hero of time either on the go in handheld mode or tat home on the big screen. Either way, the vast scope of Breath of the Wild never fails to be impressive.
Showcasing the possibilities of the Nintendo Switch platform, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild features motion-controlled aiming when using a bow. This makes it easy to line up shots against enemies perfectly during the heat of battle, giving you a new edge previously not possible before in the series. These gyroscopic controls even translates to the game’s puzzle elements, where moving the Switch during handheld can help you solve certain shrines.
While the main Breath of the Wild campaign can literally last you upwards of 100 hours, this didn’t stop Nintendo from releasing companion DLC that further added context to the world. Packing in all-new gear, hidden items and even a bike called the Master Cycle Zero that Link can use to traverse Hyrule much faster. The Champions’ Ballad is available as a separate purchase from the main game, introducing new gameplay elements and providing history on Daruk, Mipha, Revali and Urbosa.
