The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Windows

A much-awaited sequel for Zelda: BotW

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a premium adventure experience from Nintendo. As the much-awaited sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW), this lets you play as Link in another open-world exploration of Hyrule. However, this game features an all new-story that pits Link and Princess Zelda against a malevolent entity that seeks to destroy the Hyrule kingdom.

With a new story and the same visual quality that made BotW a smash hit, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is poised to bring the same massive gameplay experience.

Return to Hyrule

In Breath of the Wild, players are faced with a reincarnation of Calamity Ganon as the final boss. In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, a new primordial evil has been awakened, leading to a number of calamities. As teased in its first announcement trailer, the entire Hyrule Castle was lifted into the air after a massive earthquake across the Great Plateau.

One of the most important elements to watch out for is the broken Master Sword. This endgame weapon and a franchise staple have taken on a new, ghastly appearance. How it ties into the story is for the players to find out. Other than that, players are treated to a colorful open world, with certain parts getting a visual overhaul suitable for an all-new gameplay experience.

Of course, like its predecessor, expect a lot of challenges in this game coming from different places. You have certain bosses that require skill and precision, while there are puzzles that are frustratingly challenging. If it’s any consolation, the cheese strats and creative techniques are also present in this game on top of the easter eggs scattered all around the world.

Epic Adventure Awaits in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom delivers a premium adventure experience from Nintendo. As the highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW), players once again take on the role of Link in an expansive open-world exploration of Hyrule. The game introduces a brand-new story, with Link and Princess Zelda facing a malevolent force determined to destroy their kingdom.

A Whole New Hyrule to Discover

Breath of the Wild introduced players to a reincarnation of Calamity Ganon as the final boss. In Tears of the Kingdom, a new primordial evil has emerged, causing a series of disasters. As shown in the game's announcement trailer, Hyrule Castle is lifted into the sky following a massive earthquake across the Great Plateau.

Intriguing New Elements and Visual Upgrades

One key aspect of the game is the damaged Master Sword, which now takes on a sinister appearance. The connection between this change and the story is left for players to uncover. Additionally, the open world has been enhanced with updated visuals, offering an even more immersive experience for players.

Challenges, Puzzles, and Creative Techniques

Like its predecessor, Tears of the Kingdom features numerous challenges, from skill-based boss battles to mind-bending puzzles. However, players will also be able to employ cheese strats and inventive techniques, as well as discover easter eggs hidden throughout the world.

A Must-Play for Both Newcomers and Fans

While long-time fans and completionists may suggest playing BotW first, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a fantastic entry point for newcomers to the franchise. The game builds on its predecessor's story and gameplay while introducing new scenarios and mechanics to further enhance the experience.

No Need to Play Breath of the Wild Before Tears of the Kingdom

Although The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a sequel to Breath of the Wild, players don't necessarily need to play the previous game before embarking on this new adventure. Each Zelda game typically serves as a standalone experience, and all important characters should receive proper introductions in the new installment. However, playing Breath of the Wild can provide a richer understanding of the game world and allow players to appreciate smaller lore details.

Tears of the Kingdom Release Date

Zelda fans can rejoice, as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to be released on May 12. With anticipation building, players are eagerly awaiting the chance to explore the new story and gameplay elements.

Stand-Alone Adventure in a Familiar World

As a sequel, Tears of the Kingdom does share similarities with its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, but the game is designed to provide a fresh, stand-alone experience. Players who have completed the previous game may notice small references throughout Hyrule, but all crucial story elements should be covered within Tears of the Kingdom itself.

Platform Availability: Nintendo Switch Exclusive

Unfortunately for PC gamers, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will not be available on PC. The game is a Nintendo Switch exclusive, continuing the long-standing tradition of Zelda games being exclusive to Nintendo platforms.

Expanding Hyrule: Sky Exploration and New Environments

Fujibayashi explains that the world of The Legend of Zelda™: Tears of the Kingdom has indeed expanded, with players now able to explore the skies and caves, which were not possible in the previous title. The team revisited ideas that they couldn't include in Breath of the Wild and began implementing them into the new game.

Challenges of Seamless Transitions and Fresh Perspectives

Takizawa and Dohta describe how the addition of cliffside caves and sky islands changes the way players perceive the landscape. These elements encourage players to view familiar places in a different light, sparking curiosity and exploration. The development team also faced challenges in connecting the ground and sky seamlessly and creating a world with a sense of verticality.

Sky Islands and Sound Design: Crafting the Atmosphere

Fujibayashi shares that designing sky islands and creating new actions for Link were both exciting and challenging tasks. The team experimented with different gameplay elements while developing the sky islands, even cluttering the skies at times. The sound team also faced difficulties in finding fitting sounds for the sky and transitioning music between the surface and the skies.

Dungeons: A Fresh Take on Traditional Zelda Experiences

Fujibayashi reveals that dungeons in Tears of the Kingdom have changed from the previous game, with some connecting directly from Hyrule's surface. These new dungeons, unique to their respective environments, provide players with a wide variety of regional characteristics and a satisfying challenge. Takizawa adds that these dungeons were a challenge to develop, but they are reminiscent of traditional The Legend of Zelda games.

A definite must-have

While completionists and lore fans will strongly recommend playing BotW first, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an all-around banger from Nintendo that makes a strong case for players to start enjoying the franchise. Story-wise, it picks up from its predecessor. In terms of gameplay, it retains what made the previous entry lovable, while adding new scenarios and new mechanics to spice the experience up.