Why You Should Consider Replaying Breath of the Wild

Now that gamers have had ample time to fully explore The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s clear that it surpasses its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, in several aspects. The new abilities, such as Ultrahand, and the expanded world have been widely successful, making it hard to go back to Breath of the Wild without them. However, while I understand this sentiment, I don’t necessarily feel the same way. Breath of the Wild still possesses unique aspects that make it appealing compared to its sequel, whether in the form of interesting features exclusive to Breath of the Wild or simply improvements over Tears of the Kingdom. So, if you completed Tears of the Kingdom and are struggling to find reasons to return to Breath of the Wild, here are a few points to consider.

What to Look Forward to When Replaying Breath of the Wild

Sheikah Slate Runes

The core abilities introduced in Tears of the Kingdom, Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Recall, are crucial for the game’s rewarding and dynamic exploration. However, those familiar with Breath of the Wild know that these new abilities replace the Sheikah Slate runes: Magnesis, Stasis, Remote Bombs, and Cryonis. Each game possesses its own unique set of interactions and exploration. While Tears of the Kingdom’s abilities offer more versatility, Breath of the Wild’s powers still provide fun interactions and utility that the new abilities lack. The distinct mechanics of Breath of the Wild’s runes, such as building momentum with Stasis or the superior maneuverability of Magnesis, still offer a great deal of enjoyment for players.

A Less Overwhelming Hyrule

Tears of the Kingdom features one of the largest and densest game worlds to date. While this is impressive, it can also become overwhelming. Every step seems to lead to a new enemy camp, Korok seed, cave, or distraction, making it difficult to focus on the main quests. Additionally, the sky islands and the Depths areas add to the feeling of being overwhelmed. Breath of the Wild, on the other hand, offers a more controlled and balanced distribution of content. With fewer distractions, players can cover more of the map at a brisker pace, providing a more enjoyable replayability experience.

Unique Enemies

Tears of the Kingdom carries over most of the enemies from Breath of the Wild, including the iconic Guardians. These Sheikah robots, taken over by Calamity Ganon, offer tense and exciting encounters. While Tears of the Kingdom introduces new enemies, none of them have the unique parry interaction that the Guardians possess. Additionally, the Guardian Scout enemies in Breath of the Wild offer compelling tests of swordplay skills and impress with their extensive movesets.

More Combat-Focused Bosses

The major story bosses in Breath of the Wild have often been criticized for their lack of visual and mechanical variety. However, these bosses take full advantage of the core combat mechanics, such as flurry rushes and shield parries. Tears of the Kingdom aims to improve on this aspect by introducing bosses with greater variety. However, Breath of the Wild’s bosses allow these mechanics to shine more often, providing a compelling reason to revisit them.

Divine Beast Dungeons

Another controversial topic among Zelda fans is the Divine Beasts in Breath of the Wild. While some see them as poor substitutes for traditional dungeons, they still offer unique puzzle experiences. Despite their segmented design, the Divine Beasts provide engaging gameplay elements that make them worth revisiting.