Unleashing the Powerful Secrets of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Wind Temple

Breath of the Wild, released in 2017, is widely regarded as one of the greatest open world games ever created. However, it has received criticism for neglecting some of the beloved series staples that have been present in Zelda games since the franchise's inception in 1987. These include breaking pots to recover hearts, heart container pieces, Link's iconic green tunic, and finding essential items like the hook shot and boomerang in dungeons. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, released in 2023, had the difficult task of living up to its predecessor while also satisfying older fans of the series. Fortunately, it succeeded by building on the ideas introduced in Breath of the Wild and incorporating elements from previous games to enhance its overall experience. The game's dungeons are particularly exceptional, and while they can be tackled in any order, the Wind Temple is a standout and showcases the full potential of both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo's current generation of Zelda games.

Breath of the Wild's Divine Beasts Were Disappointing

The Divine Beasts in Breath of the Wild have been criticized for lacking depth and variety. While they served as the game's dungeons, players found them to be too similar in design and too easy to complete. This is an aspect that Tears of the Kingdom had to address and improve upon.

The Wind Temple, while not as complex as dungeons in previous games, successfully incorporates fundamental ideas from those games into the world of Breath of the Wild. It is a shining example of how the game can cater to both new and returning players. The dungeon is more focused than the Divine Beasts, yet still allows for inventive problem-solving and gameplay.

Tears of the Kingdom's Wind Temple Fuses New and Old

The approach of navigating through the storm gave a sense of adventure and challenge similar to traversing the Gerudo Desert or crossing the seas in previous Zelda games. This linear path to the dungeon kept players engaged until they defeated the boss, creating a satisfying gameplay loop. The battle with Colgera stood out due to its emphasis on skill and intuition, rather than relying on finding the correct item in the dungeon. The clever use of skyward gusts and inventory items added depth to the gameplay, blending traditional dungeon elements with the freedom of Breath of the Wild. The Wind Temple in Tears of the Kingdom raised the stakes with its difficult puzzle and intense battle in the sky. This dungeon proves that the classic spirit of Zelda dungeons can still thrive in new directions.

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