Is Zelda Worth It for the Nintendo Switch? A Detailed Look at Breath of the Wild

In one word: Absolutely. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a must-have game for all Nintendo Switch owners.

Released in 2017 alongside the Switch, Breath of the Wild reinvented the iconic Zelda franchise into a thrilling open-world adventure. With over 24 million copies sold, it is the best-selling Zelda game ever, and achieved universal acclaim with review scores averaging 97/100.

Keep reading as a long-time gamer provides an in-depth analysis on why Breath of the Wild is a masterpiece worthy of its praise. Whether you‘re new to Zelda or a life-long fan, you‘ll discover why this incredible journey deserves a spot in your Switch game collection.

Revolutionary Open World Design That Redefined Zelda

Previous Zelda games followed a linear formula. You had to complete dungeons in a set order to progress the story. Breath of the Wild shook things up by allowing you to explore freely.

Right from the start, you can climb towering cliffs, swim across rivers, and glide off peaks to travel huge distances. Snowy mountains, vast forests, and arid deserts beckon you to adventure through them. This level of freedom was unprecedented in Zelda.

Reviewers universally praised the thrilling sense of discovery this open world provides. GameSpot called it a "remarkable achievement" that allows you to chart your own path. IGN said it "breaks from tradition and provides a rewarding open world to explore."

Wherever your curiosity takes you, you‘re sure to be rewarded with majestic vistas, hidden treasures, shrines of puzzles, enemy camps to raid, and settlements with interesting characters. There‘s always something new over the horizon.

Over 100 Clever Dungeons and Puzzles to Solve

Scattered across the world are 120 mini-dungeons called shrines, each containing fun bite-sized puzzles. Physics based puzzles ask you to roll boulders or manipulate objects. Combat shrines test your fighting skills against robotic sentries. Platforming shrines require athletic leaps and climbs.

For main story dungeons, there are 4 massive Divine Beasts to conquer. These moving animal constructs have multiple floors filled with challenges centering around manipulating the beast‘s position and parts. They end with thrilling boss fights.

Puzzle solving has always been at the heart of Zelda. Breath of the Wild continues that legacy with magnets, movable ice blocks, weight puzzles and other creative challenges. You‘ll need to push the boundaries of experimentation to succeed.

Emergent Gameplay from Runes, Physics and Chemistry

Rather than finding items in dungeons, you start with 4 versatile magic runes:

• Magnesis – manipulate metallic objects
• Stasis – freeze objects in time
• Cryonis – create ice block platforms on water
• Remote bombs – generate spherical or cube explosives

These runes are used extensively for world puzzles and emergent combat. For example, you can freeze a boulder rolling at you, or propel a metal crate into enemies with magnets. Objects react realistically, adding more gameplay possibilities.

Elemental properties like fire, electricity and wind also lead to chemistry-based gameplay. Wooden weapons catch fire, metal weapons conduct electricity, and wind can spread flames. You can apply this knowledge in creative ways to defeat foes.

Ranking Against Other Top Nintendo Switch Games

As this table shows, Breath of the Wild is tied with Super Mario Odyssey as the highest rated Switch exclusive game. It exemplifies Nintendo‘s design prowess and mastery of gameplay innovation. Both titles are must-have system sellers.

Top Reasons Zelda Appeals to All Kinds of Gamers

Let‘s look at why Breath of the Wild is loved by all gamer types, whether you‘re:

• New to Zelda – The welcoming design eases you in gently. You can cook healing meals, ride horses for mobility, warp away from tough enemies, and upgrade armor for defense.
• A Core Gamer – Challenging combat scenarios, mini-games, puzzle shrines and dashboard displays showing percentages keep you engaged.
• An Explorer – Lush forests, snowy peaks, lakes and deserts offer endless terrain to traverse with rewards for your curiosity.
• A Completionist – With 900 total collectible Korok seeds, 120 shrines, dozens of hidden side quests, and countless discoverable locations, you‘ll be busy for 200+ hours.

These varied play styles demonstrate why Breath of the Wild appeals to gamers of all types – its freedom welcomes anyone to adventure through Hyrule however they wish.

Delightful Music and Picturesque Art Design

Breath of the Wild‘s bright, painterly art style gives Hyrule a magical, dreamlike feel. Vibrant greens, blues, pinks and oranges wash over forests, villages, and rocky peaks. Cloud shadows drift across the rolling green meadows. Seeing sights like Death Mountain or Hyrule Castle inspires wonder.

Soothing piano melodies evoke nostalgia while dynamically swelling during combat and exploration. Hearing familiar tunes from past games re-orchestrated is a treat for long-time Zelda fans.

Small touches like grass swaying, wind howling, and critters scurrying also help the world feel alive. The harmonious blend of visuals and music makes journeying across Hyrule a picturesque experience.

Memorable Storytelling and Lovable Characters

Breath of the Wild reveals its backstory through your exploration. 100 years ago, a great calamity struck Hyrule. Now the kingdom lies in ruin, awaiting the return of its legendary hero Link to free it from corruption.

Uncovering Link‘s forgotten past and how the kingdom fell injects personal stakes into your quest. Allies like the wise Princess Zelda and the four charming Champions provide emotional connection and humor.

Whimsical side characters like the musical bird-man Kass and the childish Koroks offer levity between the epic conflicts. Discovering the story at your own pace makes it more impactful.

Vast Post-Game Content and Additional DLC

Here‘s a rough estimate of potential playtime:

• Main story: 55 hours
• Main + extra shrines/quests: 85 hours
• Full completionist run: 200+ hours

The $20 DLC Expansion Pass adds a substantial amount of content too:

• Trial of the Sword – Battle through 45 rooms of escalating enemies
• Hero‘s Path mode – See your full exploration trail on the map
• Master Mode – Enemies regenerate health and floating platforms add puzzles
• Champions‘ Ballad – Lengthy story quest with creative new shrines

Given the flexibility of the open world design, no two playthroughs are the same. Even after defeating Ganon, there‘s so much left to explore and discover across Hyrule.

In Summary: An Unforgettable Masterpiece

Breath of the Wild succeeds in creating a living, breathing open world full of mystery and adventure. Its exhilarating freedom combined with smart puzzles, emotive storytelling and charming details make exploring Hyrule an absolute joy.

For any Nintendo Switch owner, Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an essential purchase alongside Super Mario Odyssey. Dive into one of the most magical worlds in gaming history and create unforgettable stories of your own. This masterpiece will stick with you for a lifetime.