2023-05-11 12:00:00
To say that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is expected, would be an understatement. But players can be reassured: their patience has indeed been rewarded. Because Nintendo is now offering them a grand, thrilling and, above all, practically perfect new epic.
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Let’s cut to the chase and immediately answer the question on everyone’s lips: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom does it live up to its predecessor, Breath of the Wild? Yes. Absolutely. After some 75 hours (according to the data from our Nintendo Switch console), we can say that without a shadow of a doubt.
Is it even superior? It is still too early to answer this question. Because if we spent many hours surveying this new open world, we invested more than double in the previous chapter over the years. Only time will tell if Tears of the Kingdom will captivate, entertain and amaze us for so long. But at first glance, everything suggests yes.
Save Hyrule
The valiant knight Link returns after six years of absence to, once again, save Hyrule. Because if he defeated Ganon at the end of the previous chapter, our hero sees his country plunged into chaos following the mysterious disappearance of Princess Zelda.
He will therefore have to move heaven and earth — literally — to relieve his people of this new scourge. Because his quests will lead him from the depths of the bowels of Hyrule to its skies to rescue Princess Zelda and restore peace.
This synopsis, briefly summarized here, has nothing revolutionary about it. The plot is intended to be the direct continuation of the previous chapter; it is anchored in the same universe and borrows the same mechanics.
If some could blame Tears of the Kingdom its similarities with Breath of the Wild, we are of the opinion that a break in tone would have been more — and more strongly — decried by the faithful. And if the first minutes evoke a feeling of déjà vu, we quickly realize that Link is indeed living a distinct epic.
Photo courtesy of Nintendo
New Abilities
This becomes especially evident thanks to the new tools and skills made available to Link, whether it is his clothes, materials, weapons, strategies, enemies or even allies. Among the most exciting additions are the batrachian costumes and accessories that give our hero superior grip and adhesion to wet surfaces.
Yes, it is resolved this time when the whims of Mother Nature – particularly frequent, let’s face it – prevented our hero from climbing the walls and precipices. We let you imagine the loud sigh of relief that this discovery drew from us.
This time, Link is also equipped with new special abilities that will prove essential in his journey. An example? The faculty of amalgamation, acquired early in the adventure, makes it possible to merge certain elements. A simple branch, for example, will become a weapon [relativement] more powerful when combined with a pebble or a rock.
Same thing for the arrows, released through bows of all kinds, which will acquire the power of fire, water, electricity or frost depending on the accessories assigned to them.
More complex
Note also the level of difficulty raised to many levels for this new chapter. Shrines are obviously back, but in an often more complex form than their counterparts in Breath of the Wild. We admit it, we racked our brains and scratched the chives on different occasions to solve the puzzles, mysteries and labyrinths. Result: each success is even more satisfying.
So be reassured fans, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom fulfills every one of its promises. Did the giant Nintendo just give us the game of the year? Most likely.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ★★★★1⁄2
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