The Dual Nature of Nintendo's Open World Zelda Design

The release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was met with overwhelming critical acclaim, and for good reason. Building upon its 2017 predecessor, the game breathes new life into the kingdom of Hyrule with its vast array of side activities and immersive storyline. The open world is nothing short of breathtaking, with towering peaks and ominous depths that players can explore to their heart's content. Nintendo's recent announcement of their commitment to this philosophy is both exciting and concerning, as it risks alienating long-time fans who have come to love the classic Zelda design. Only time will tell if this bold move will pay off, but for now, it's clear that the series is undergoing its biggest transformation since the introduction of motion controls on the Wii.

Zelda’s Open Worlds are Amazing

The open-world and nonlinear level design philosophy has gained immense popularity among game developers, particularly in the AAA space. Despite some franchises like Tomb Raider, Batman: Arkham, Metal Gear Solid, and Forza not having any prior experience with open-world design, they have now joined the trend, with most companies striving to push the boundaries even further. While some have succeeded while others have failed, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was truly groundbreaking, innovative, and potentially revolutionary. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, takes it a step further with three levels of freedom, including sky islands above and depths beneath Hyrule.

Players are given the freedom to explore endless curiosities as Link builds his strength to defeat evil, which can be overwhelming at times but is a significant departure from the traditional Zelda format. Despite this change, both critics and audiences seem to agree that the shift was worthwhile. The last two Zelda games are perhaps the most faithful to the term 'open world', with fans able to extract hundreds of hours of gameplay and still discover new things to do.

Zelda’s Old Format Still Has So Much Potential

The expansive design of Tears of the Kingdom is certainly impressive, but this doesn't mean that the old linear approach lacked value. Games such as A Link to the Past and Wind Waker may have had open spaces, but they still guided players through a predetermined story. This allowed for better control over the pacing and character development, resulting in enjoyable but formulaic tales. While it would be a shame to lose this approach entirely, the new emphasis on nonlinearity in the franchise shows promise, as demonstrated by Tears of the Kingdom's improvement on Breath of the Wild's core values. However, it's important to acknowledge that the old ways brought many strengths over the years, and doubling down on the new format may come at a cost.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now for Switch.