The Legend of Zelda is one of the most critically acclaimed series of all time, and over five years later, Nintendo is finally releasing the next console game: Breath of the Wild. Everyone is hyped for Breath of the Wild, and for good reason. Whether it is the massive world size, the timeline placement theories, the enemies, the gear, or the ability to become a nude arsonist, there is something in Breath of the Wild for everyone. But what are the reasons we should really be excited for Breath of the Wild? Series creator, Eiji Aonuma, has said multiple times that he wanted to return to the roots of the Legend of Zelda series: to create that open world experience that we saw in the original games. But almost all Legend of Zelda games are open world, so what does that really mean?
In short, the scripted encounters that are present in the more recent Zelda titles are getting scrapped. In Breath of the Wild, it seems that players are finally given the freedom to experience everything their own way. Scripted encounters are those moments that occur no matter what, such as meeting Saria on the bridge or Midna pulling Link through into the twilight. However, in the original games, especially the first, scripting was virtually nonexistent. How you fought enemies depended on the direction you entered that area from, the individual AI's of each enemy, and how they were positioned when you stumbled upon them. Finding dungeons and the overall quest was entirely up to you. Sometimes they were found accidentally, and other times, you had to look for small hints scattered across the overworld. These elements reappear in Breath of the Wild and it is possible to outright beat the game without ever discovering the whole storyline. In addition there are a boatload of other new gameplay elements to make it all seem more organic and natural.
While younger fans of the series may not remember the lack of scripting, many still understand the negative effect it has come to have on the series. Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword were both heavily criticized for their extremely lengthy introduction sequences. Skyward Sword suffered from this all the more due to sequences before and after every single little thing you did. In Breath of the Wild, with Link only finding an axe, branch, and bow as he notices them, scripting is a thing of the past... uh... recent past. In fact, the only true scripting really present in the demo shown at E3 was when Link actually woke up and heard that mysterious voice. Even the intro sequence that we have come to expect of console Zelda games is noticeably absent. Is this really enough reason to be excited for it though? Will Breath of the Wild be as good of a game as we hope for it to be just because it has less scripting?
Well... no. Although a lack of scripting is a wonderful element that they are bringing back, it is also not the only thing that could have a major impact on the final game. Exploration and survival are the other two most important factors to consider.
In the demos shown at E3, we saw that gear, weapons, shields, and clothes all have durability and their own unique uses depending on which one you use. So a knight's armour may be a little slower than a cloth tunic, but it would also offer significantly better protection. If the rest items are all like this, in addition to the fact that we need to cook in order to survive, then wouldn't Breath of the Wild seem more like a survival game than the standard quest-only Zelda format? Wouldn't this drastically change the conventions of Zelda? Wait... that sounds familiar, doesn't it? Aonuma has been repeating that same line for years now: “rethink the conventions of Zelda”. The need to constantly care for yourself might scare a lot of people away because, well, that sounds a lot like real life. Breath of the Wild's slower pace is something that will likely make the game, but it could also potentially ruin it if done incorrectly.
Another important factor that seems to have everyone worried is the apparent loneliness in Breath of the Wild. The lack of a companion is one thing, but a completely abandoned demo and trailer with only one old man is quite another. There's nobody around in this game. That could just mean the demo didn't include them and Nintendo does not want to reveal key plot details until the release, but it could also mean that they want to keep them hidden until you accidentally stumble into a village in-game.
Of course, it could also mean something a little more troubling and worrisome: nobody is around. They're all gone. Whether they died, fled, drowned, or other mishap, it's a very real possibility that Breath of the Wild will be the most unpopulated Zelda game in history. Breath of the Wild seems so alive and wild... but at the same time, so desolate. A total lack of people would be a very meaningful move from Nintendo's part, drawing attention to the catastrophe of 100 years prior, and it would really show just how much of an impact the devastation had. If nobody is left alive, then it's no wonder that some people are theorizing that Link actually lost to Ganon the first time around, and the Shiekah took action to keep him alive, imprisoning Ganon until the time came for Link to take up his sword again.
Then again, maybe not. Either way, there's a lot to look forward to and be excited about in Breath of the Wild. Just imagining what this game could mean for future games in the series makes me excited.
You can watch a theory from Zeltik here about the Great Plateau and how Breath of the Wild ties into the series! https://youtu.be/bJg4D26QrEU