April 27th 2024.
Is it fair to say that The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is not living up to its hype? As a dedicated fan of the series, I can confidently explain why I find this installment to be lackluster and, dare I say, infuriatingly dull.
It's been almost a year since the game's release, and I think it's time to reevaluate the overwhelming praise it received upon its debut. Now, before I dive into the flaws of Tears Of The Kingdom (and trust me, there are many), I want to acknowledge that there are some truly impressive aspects of the game. The highly-praised Ultrahand and Ascend abilities are just a few examples of the game's strengths, setting a high standard for other action adventure games.
I remember a moment early on in the game where I thought it was finally going to live up to its potential. As I soared towards the first temple, the height was so extreme that I felt like I was in outer space. Even my companion, Rito, had never been that high before. The atmosphere was masterfully crafted with dark, thunderous clouds, and a chilling coldness that seemed to seep through the screen. But unfortunately, it was all downhill from there.
The game quickly succumbs to the common pitfalls of modern open-world games, with excessive grinding, tedious quests, and sluggish pacing. And let's not forget the terrible opening sequence with the insufferable Zelda and the useless companions. It's a shame because beneath all of these issues, there are some genuinely nauseating and empty spaces, like the Depths and the sky islands.
The fire temple, while short, stands out as one of the worst dungeons in the franchise's history. And the desert temple isn't much better, both contributing to the game's sluggish pace. In short, playing Tears Of The Kingdom feels like a chore, with countless hours spent going nowhere in frustration.
But perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this game is its disregard for players with families, jobs, and other commitments. It reinforces the idea that gaming is only for those with endless amounts of free time. And this game's development philosophy is unsustainable, as we've seen with other studios that have struggled financially due to the excessive time and resources spent on creating massive games.
Nintendo may have the resources to get away with it, but do their talented developers really want to spend years creating something grueling, or would they rather focus on something more enjoyable that can be completed in a reasonable amount of time? The game's 10+ million sales suggest that the latter option may not be a choice for them.
I anticipate some backlash for my opinions, and that's okay. Everyone is entitled to their own views. But I am certain that when Nintendo inevitably releases a remastered version of Tears Of The Kingdom in the coming years, it will come with significant improvements to address the flaws I've mentioned. And at that point, all the previous praise will seem a bit silly.
If you think my criticisms are harsh, just imagine the frustration of navigating through endless rock tunnels, only to be met with more mazes and obstacles, all for a lackluster reward. This is not the joyous discovery we've come to expect from the Zelda franchise.
Oddly enough, I don't recall feeling as frustrated or bored with Breath Of The Wild, the game's predecessor. It had a more engaging opening and a clearer focus, whereas Tears Of The Kingdom starts off with a tedious cave scene and ends with a shouting match in an even deeper cave. It's a far cry from the series' best moments.
Signed, a long-time Zelda fan, David.
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