With almost half a decade since Nintendo’s last non-portable major release in The Legend of Zelda series (Skyward Sword in 2011), there are no doubt many eager to enjoy what this game has to offer on the newest generation of Nintendo consoles. Although there isn’t a date set-in-stone just yet, the company have confirmed a 2017 release on both the Wii U and NX sometime in 2017.
Going by the title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this game sets out to deliver the franchise’s characteristic action-adventure gameplay mechanics in an open-world. Players will now be able to venture through what will be the largest version of Hyrule yet, one which is full of towers to climb, mountain peaks to traverse and a lot of wilderness to scour – all of which have secrets to discover. There will be no pre-determined path either, so players aren’t going to be forced to travel a linear route.
The environment will be journeyed whilst battling a range of enemies, many of which will now live in colonies rather than isolated among the field. Will strength in numbers have much of an impact tackling simple mobs and overall strategic planning on behalf of the player? We will soon see. Climate will also have a role in the approach players may take when navigating their way through Hyrule, as a sudden downpour might douse any exposed fire, while lightning may be attracted to the amount of metal Link is equipped with. But for tackling the challenges ahead, players will be rewarded with a range of weaponry, armour and other resources – which may provide an advantage. Using the example of armour, colder environments may require Link to bundle up, while tackling a sparse desert environment may require something lighter.
The game will offer more than 100 “Shrines of Trials”, which players will be able to search for across Hyrule. These will see you solving a variety of puzzles inside – ultimately leading to special items or other rewards to help you on your adventure.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will launch simultaneously on the Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo’s next system – codenamed NX – in 2017. Keep an eye out for more information in the months leading to launch.