Nintendo Life Charts: Why The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Falls Short

As a fan of the iconic Zelda series, I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by my experience with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While it's not a bad game by any stretch, I found myself struggling to connect with its world and mechanics, ultimately leading me to spend over 160 hours exploring its depths – almost an entire week.

My curiosity got the better of me, as I wondered why someone would invest so much time in a game they didn't particularly enjoy. For me, it boiled down to my dedication as a fan of the franchise. I wanted to experience everything The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had to offer, including its story, side quests, and new enemies and bosses.

However, upon reflection, I feel that the game takes too many cues from its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While I appreciated the variety of new enemies and bosses, the overall feeling was that not much had changed. The sky and depths, in particular, felt underutilized, with little going on beyond the initial excitement.

The ending also left me feeling somewhat anticlimactic, and the Champions' lackluster performances only added to my disappointment. On the other hand, the story was a highlight for me – one of the few areas where the game truly shone.

Despite its flaws, I still managed to find enjoyment in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As a fan, it's hard not to appreciate the effort that went into creating this game. However, I fear that as time passes and the hype dies down, people will come to realize more of its shortcomings.

In conclusion, while The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is by no means a bad game, it ultimately feels like a step backward for the franchise. With its reliance on assets from Breath of the Wild and underutilized environments, it fails to truly innovate or push the boundaries of what we've come to expect from a Zelda game.

For fans of the series, I would give The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom a 7/10 – a solid but unremarkable addition to the franchise. As for newcomers, I recommend exploring other options before diving into this one.

Nintendo life charts