The 40-year anniversary of one of the most beloved series is getting a new addition. Our ever heroic protagonist; Link must traverse dangerous lands, solve mysteries and defeat the final boss, who we’re already pretty familiar with. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, a direct continuation of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will see Link continuing his epic adventures in the kingdom of Hyrule as foes from his past rise from the shadows long forgotten. With an even more extensive world to navigate, venturing across the earth and skies alike will give even more nuance and exploration to the gameplay. No wonder it happens to be one of the most highly anticipated games of 2023.
When is the Release Date?
After originally being set to release in 2022, the game was delayed to the Spring of 2023. Finally, we have a hard date to look forward to… May 12th, 2023.
Which Platform(s) Does It Release On?
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, as much as gamers around the world would like to get their hands on the game for their specific consoles.
Trailer
Four months ago, Nintendo of America released the official trailer for Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to give some insight on what the game will include and hopefully address some frequently asked questions for the fans:
We start with a view of some sort of drawing or engraving on what looks to be a cave wall illuminated by a torch, before panning to Link forcing open massive doors into the outside world. It immediately reminds us of Breath of the Wild‘s design and visuals. We never see any of the enemies he will surely have to fight but we know they´re there lurking around the corner.
Link jumps off cliffs, lands on platforms, and scales along mountainsides with complete confidence in his movements and a look of pure determination and focus on his face. Those who happen to stumble across the trailer by accident can come to the conclusion that he is on a very important mission and will stop at nothing to see it completed.
The vibrant animation style is reminiscent of the prequel and really gets you excited for its release. The developers are cleverly building off of what they excelled at in the past but use enough new material for it to feel fresh.
The Gameplay Explained
Link is armed with more combat weapons that have different abilities. Instead of the Sheikah Slate – a multi-functional tablet designed to help him on his journey – that he primarily used in Breath of the Wild, he now has a sword attached to his arm that glows to aid in his travels across the skies. His other weapons include:
- Bows & various types of arrows
- A wide selection of shields
- Multiple swords
This action-adventure game will include everything that made the previous games a success whilst making the gameplay more interactive through a wider selection of weapons to choose and learn from. Find ways to upgrade and make the most of what you have been given. Since Link will be journeying to islands located in the sky, we can only imagine how cool it will be try out these new abilities while diving through the air or meandering on a floating rock.
The Story
With Nintendo being hush-hush on disclosing too much information on the story-line, we have deduced a couple of things. First: the decrepit corpse of Ganon has been revived and is reaping havoc on the kingdom of Hyrule. How it came to be is currently unknown but it certainly got our attention.
Second: the drawings shown at the beginning of the trailer feature a female figure we hypothesize to be Zelda. If she does make an appearance, we hope her role will compliment Link´s and that they can vanquish evil together.
The World of Tears of the Kingdom
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom continues on the original world from Breath of the Wild. With lots of new areas to discover, requiring time and energy to actually get there, gameplay can be extended exponentially. Places exist far above and down below and only those skilled and patient enough to seek out these hidden locations can see all of the potential and wonder the world has to offer.
Latest News
According to The Gamer, as of January 4th of this year, Tears of the Kingdom will most likely be the last major release for Nintendo. Some insiders within the corporation stated this in the beginning of the new year. This is most likely due to the company looking to update and develop their console for future games. Hopefully the franchise will continue to be stellar even though it will eventually no longer be a part of Nintendo Switch.
Should You Play Breath of the Wild First?
It is highly recommended that you play Breath of the Wild before starting Tears of the Kingdom. To get the most out of your gameplay, gaining a thorough understanding of the story-line in its entirety will make the experience so much more fulfilling for you in the long run. There´s still a few months until Tears of the Kingdom‘s official release so make the most of it. If you are able, spend a few days getting lost in BotW. I can assure you, you won´t regret it.
Source: GameSpot, Nintendolife, and Gamesradar
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will release on May 12, 2023 and be available exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
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