“The Evolution of Zelda: A Review of Tears of the Kingdom”

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild changed the formula of the series by transforming Hyrule into an open world and was a critical success. The latest addition to the series, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, is not a revolution but an excellent evolution. Nintendo’s attempt at transforming the series a second time was unlikely to succeed as Breath of the Wild was such a critical success. Therefore, Tears of the Kingdom adds mechanical elements that fulfil the unfulfilled promises Breath of the Wild made.

The game reiterates the events right after the duo, Zelda and Link, obliterate the blue pig-god Ganon. After a cataclysmic event, Hyrule Castle breaks into skyward, and Link is found with a new black claw replacing one of his hands, high in the air above stone islands that speckle the sky. The game adds a new element, the sky, to the surface world of the previous game. Players can skydive and soar, which aligns with Hayao Miyazaki’s love of flight, which has influenced the game like its predecessor.

The game, like Zelda games, is fraught with danger, with players fighting poisoned versions of Hynoxes and Lynels in the darkness of the underworld. To reveal the surroundings, Link must plant Brightbloom Seeds, which burst into light-giving flowers when planted, and Lightroots that function as checkpoints. Tears of the Kingdom adds to the combat by allowing players to add fruits to the arrowheads to inflict elemental damage.

The game has returned with a wider range of systems that are similar to the previous game but with improvements. The sidequests are more extensive, the shrines offer more intuitive puzzles, and Korok seeds can be found all over the world. The game also brings new motivation to combat and harvesting. The game still has some minor controls issues, but it adds Ultrahand, a feature that allows players to attach rockets, control sticks, wheel suspension, and mirrors together to create their vehicles.

The latest Legend of Zelda game is not a disappointment, as it has refined the first game’s formula to feel obsolete. While not as astonishing as Breath of the Wild, it refines the game’s systems and adds new elements that are more than enough.