The Unmatched Brilliance of Breath of the Wild: Reigning Supreme over Tears of the Kingdom

Highlights

"Tears of the Kingdom pushes the world of Breath of the Wild to its limits, but still has its share of drawbacks compared to its predecessor."

Tears of the Kingdom provides a more challenging gameplay experience for beginners when compared to Breath of the Wild, featuring formidable adversaries and extended tutorial levels.

The capabilities offered by the Sheikah Runes in Breath of the Wild surpass the abilities found in Tears of the Kingdom in terms of variety and creativity, although the sequel's fresh abilities come with their own merits.

Tears of the Kingdom is widely regarded as a successful follow-up to the highly acclaimed Breath of the Wild. Fans eagerly awaited more details after the teaser was released at E3 2019, and its impressive sales validate the high expectations.

However, after being available for several months, some players are finding themselves returning to Breath of the Wild. It seems that despite its achievements, Tears of the Kingdom has evoked a sense of nostalgia for the original game. Critics have also pointed out that while Tears of the Kingdom pushes the boundaries of Breath of the Wild's world, it still has its own drawbacks. This suggests that while it may be a sequel, its predecessor still possesses its own unique appeal.

7 Gameplay is More Forgiving

Tears of the Kingdom is notably unfriendly towards new players. In comparison to Breath of the Wild, its tutorial mode is significantly longer, taking up to an hour or two instead of just starting at the Great Plateau. The reason for this may lie in Link's new Abilities. Additionally, while Link would receive the paraglider from King Rhoam at the end of the BotW tutorial, in TotK, Rauru offers assistance but lacks any parting gifts when Link leaves the Great Sky Island.

Furthermore, the monsters and minibosses in Tears of the Kingdom are considerably more powerful than their counterparts in Breath of the Wild. Taking into account The Depths, newcomers to the series may find TotK less forgiving than its predecessor. This is not to say that Breath of the Wild is devoid of challenges. Guardian Stalkers were formidable opponents, and it is debatable whether they posed a greater nuisance than the Gloom Spawns in Tears of the Kingdom. However, when it comes to encountering formidable foes, it is Tears of the Kingdom that prevails in Hyrule.

6 Shrine Trials

The Shrine Trials in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom offer various challenges that are essential for improving Link's health and stamina. Typically, a Sheikah Shrine (BotW) or Shrine of Light (TotK) presents a series of puzzles that must be solved in order for Link to obtain the Spirit Orb or Blessing of Light. Occasionally, instead of a Trial, a Shrine may feature a "Blessing," where Link can easily obtain the Orb without any additional challenges. These particular Shrines are often hidden behind puzzles that involve uncovering the Shrine.

Interestingly, TotK includes numerous Shrines known as "Rauru's Blessing." Many of the Shrine Quests in this game require transporting a large green crystal to its designated location. Given abilities like Fuse and Ultrahand, one might expect the Shrine Trials to encourage more creativity. Additionally, TotK suffers from an excess of "tutorial" Trials, with players encountering multiple Shrines in Hyrule Field that teach basic skills such as item throwing or executing a sneak attack.

5 Elemental Weapons & Bomb Arrows

In comparison to Breath of the Wild, the tutorial/hand-holding Shrines in TotK were significantly more abundant. However, it is important to note that the Sheikah Shrines in Breath of the Wild incorporated a large number of puzzles that required players to think creatively in order to obtain the Spirit Orb. From a lore perspective, the Sheikah Shrines served as a means for the Sheikah Monks to assess Link's potential as a hero and ensure that he possessed the necessary skills to defeat Calamity Ganon. Interestingly, the Shrines of Light in TotK did not impose as much pressure on Link. This could possibly be attributed to Zelda's unwavering faith in Link, which extended not only to Rauru but also to Sonia, consequently eliminating the need for Link to "prove" his capability to defeat Ganondorf.

Elemental Melee Weapons and Arrows were incredibly effective for freezing, shocking, or igniting their targets. However, their effectiveness came at a price... especially the Elemental Arrows and Bomb Arrows, which were quite expensive. On the bright side, players could obtain melee weapons like the formidable Thunderspear or the powerful Great Flamesword by defeating strong enemies. Depending on their progress in the Breath of the Wild playthrough, players might even acquire a melee weapon with higher attack power or durability.

Tears of the Kingdom's Fuse Ability allows Link to forge his very own Elemental Weapon. By attaching a Fire Fruit or Ruby to a weapon, he can harness its fiery power. However, it's worth noting that the attack strength of the Fused Weapon may not match that of an original Elemental Weapon. On the bright side, players can fuse Material with arrows, meaning they won't have to spend as many Rupees. The drawback, though, is that all arrows come from the same quiver in TotK. In BotW, arrows were divided into categories such as Normal, Fire, Ice, Shock, Bomb, and Ancient. By using an Ancient Arrow, Link wouldn't deplete his regular/normal arrow supply. Additionally, there are situations where it's more convenient to have alternative solutions rather than having to fuse/waste Materials in order to melt ice or blow up a red barrel.

4 The Price of Ore

Engaging in activities such as mowing grass or smashing barrels in the land of BotW/TotK won't yield any Rupees for Link. However, knocking around Blupees certainly will, though capturing them proves to be quite the challenge. If Link desires a substantial sum of money, his best bet lies in selling valuable gems or rare ore rather than embarking on the daunting task of hunting down each elusive Blupee scattered throughout Hyrule. In both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, vending ore served as the most efficient means of accumulating a plethora of Rupees. Nevertheless, this method does come with a few limitations.

The Upheaval in Tears of the Kingdom has caused a significant drop in the price of Amber Ore, a common drop from Ore Deposits, reducing it by 20 Rupees from Breath of the Wild. Although the game suggests that finding ore has become easier, rare gems like Sapphires and Diamonds remain scarce, with their drop rates potentially feeling even lower. This is further compounded by the expensive nature of Tears of the Kingdom. For instance, armor upgrades, previously free in BotW, now require Link to spend Rupees in addition to the necessary materials. Additionally, certain armor pieces need to be repurchased in TotK, and their prices remain unchanged. The costs of replenishing arrows and buying ingredients for meals can also accumulate rapidly. As a result, money farming has become a frustrating aspect of Tears of the Kingdom, prompting fans to seek ways to exploit glitches and duplicate valuable items like Diamonds for selling. While Breath of the Wild may have fixed most of its duplication glitches, its game mechanics made it easier to obtain rare ore, reducing the need to exploit the game. Moreover, TotK is criticized for its demanding nature, as players find it tedious to gather enough Rupees just to afford basic supplies like arrows.

3 Sheikah Runes

The Abilities of Ultrahand and Fuse in TotK have been widely enjoyed by players for their enhanced creativity and unique fusion of powerful weapons. The Ascend Ability proves beneficial for navigating steep cliffs and tall structures, while Recall is favored by those in need of a makeshift elevator or who enjoy hurling weapons at their foes. Although Auto-Build may not be as impressive as the other Abilities, it still serves a purpose.

Many fans of BotW often find themselves longing for the Sheikah Runes: Magnesis, Bombs, Stasis, and Cryonis. While Link cannot attach objects to weapons as he can in TotK, the diverse range of Sheikah Runes in BotW gives it an advantage over Rauru's Hand Abilities. The Bomb Sheikah Rune, specifically, would have been ideal in TotK for its usefulness in breaking walls and exploring caves scattered throughout Hyrule. Although Zonai Technology in TotK offers similar capabilities, it is not as convenient. For example, if Link needs to cross a body of water without the proper Zonai Device, he is out of luck, whereas in Breath of the Wild, he could easily create ice platforms to reach the other side.

2 The Champion Abilities

After freeing the Champions from the Divine Beasts, Link gained access to their powers. Each power had a limited number of uses before needing to cool down. These powers included Mipha's Grace, Revali's Gale, Daruk's Protection, and Urbosa's Fury, which greatly aided him in battles and exploration across the expansive world of Hyrule.

However, in Tears of the Kingdom, the Champion Abilities are replaced by the Sages' Vows. This meant that an Avatar of the respective Sage would appear and fight alongside Link in battles. Link could also utilize these Abilities by approaching the Sages and pressing the A-button. However, this implementation had its flaws. The Sages often charge at enemies, which can disrupt players who are attempting to use a specific Ability. It is also possible to accidentally activate the wrong Ability, resulting in unwanted consequences, such as activating Vow of Tulin instead of Vow of Yunobo and inadvertently blowing away dropped items. Furthermore, the Sages' large size (excluding Riju and Tulin) adds to the challenges faced by players.

1 Locked Mementos (Link's Memories)

There's no denying the crucial roles of Rauru, Sonia, and Mineru in the captivating narrative of Tears of the Kingdom. It is widely acknowledged that witnessing Princess Zelda receive affection and understanding following her unexpected journey back in time provided a refreshing contrast to King Rhoam's strict upbringing. Additionally, the Dragon Tears shed light on this version's Ganondorf, generating significant excitement among eager fans when the TotK teaser was released. Nonetheless, some enthusiasts promptly noted that while these memories hold great significance for Zelda, they have limited relevance to Link.

Breath of the Wild is set 100 years after The Calamity, and engaging in the "Locked Mementos" main quest provides players with a deeper understanding of the tragic events surrounding The Calamity. Through this quest, gamers learn about the Champions, the Divine Beasts, and witness the growth of Link and Zelda's relationship. While it is possible to complete the Divine Beasts without uncovering any Memories, doing so adds a personal touch to the story. Link's fight against Calamity Ganon is not only for the rescue of Zelda, but also for his friends.

Although Tears of the Kingdom explores more of The Zonai, it does not evoke the same connection that Link felt with Rauru and the Champions (Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa). Additionally, as a sequel to Breath of the Wild, Link and Zelda's relationship is already established. Those who have not played Breath of the Wild and jump straight into Tears of the Kingdom may not fully appreciate the dynamics between Link and Zelda that developed from the beginning. However, this does not diminish the iconic nature of Link and Zelda as a duo.