I’ve been thinking about whether the latest Zelda games, specifically Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom (TotK), are starting to lose their charm and become formulaic like some people claim older games did. I genuinely love the classic Zelda formula with its dungeons, item progression, and character growth through acquiring hearts and new abilities – it was always a blast for me. However, I’ve got to admit that the open-world approach in BotW and TotK is starting to feel a bit stale. The vastness of these worlds is amazing, but the content can get repetitive, especially with the Shrines and enemy camps. For instance, I was initially excited about the Sky Islands in TotK, yet many felt underwhelming and empty. Also, I can’t help but feel the dungeons have lost their complexity; the puzzles are easier than before and lack that interconnected design we loved in earlier games. It’s still early since there have only been a couple of games in this new style, but I found it disappointing that TotK had many of the same flaws as BotW. I’m curious if they can address these issues in the next installment!
3 Answers
I think they’re definitely moving towards some new ground with these games. Nintendo seems to have plans for future Zelda titles that might build upon the open-world concept, but I really hope they bring back those classic mechanics, like traditional dungeons! It could give that feeling of freedom while still retaining some challenge.
TotK improved on many aspects of BotW, and that gives me hope for the next title. While it did have its flaws, like repetitive environments, it showed that they’re trying to innovate. If they keep iterating, they could definitely create something amazing next time!
I just wish they’d keep pushing boundaries and not fall into a repetitive cycle. Variety is key for keeping Zelda fresh!
It’s definitely tough to argue against the idea that BotW and TotK have fallen into a somewhat formulaic structure already. Nintendo embraced the open-world craze, and it feels like they took the easy route applying it to Zelda. The Shrines are basically just filler now, and they don’t offer the depth we used to see in dungeons. It’s more about checking boxes than experiencing a cohesive journey, you know?
Yeah, the exploration aspect was fun, but the lack of interconnected challenges really dampens the experience for me.
Exactly! The dungeons in BotW felt pretty lackluster, so I’m hoping the next one brings back those epic puzzles and boss fights we love.